For a full week, I have been visiting friends all around town to celebrate Sukkot by reciting a blessing on the “Lulav” palm branch tied together with the myrtle and willow leaves held closely together with the beautiful Etrog citrus fruit.
Although the biblical wording is vague, the identity of these four specific species has been clearly articulated by Moses and in practice for over 3,000 years. Our sages explained how the identity of each traditional species of this combination is embedded in the precise biblical language of this Mitzvah.
The Torah does not specifically name the citrus fruit we should use during Sukkot. It simply says we should take a “Pri Eitz Hadar” which means “a beautiful fruit.” However, the Talmudic sages explained that the word “Hadar” lends itself to the idea that it’s a fruit that “dwells on its tree from year to year.” Whereas most fruits are seasonal, the Etrog grows year-round and for multiple years. Although the seasons are so different, the Etrog thrives on the diversity of its circumstances.
One of the cardinal rules about the Etrog (and by extension the other three species) is that it must be fresh, hence one may not save this year’s Etrog for next year since it will certainly be dried out by then.
Here is a quote from the Code of Jewish Law regarding the freshness of the Etrog: An etrog is defined as “dried out” when no moisture is left and it no longer discharges any moisture, (for moisture to a fruit is like blood to the flesh of a living creature, and it is written in Psalms, “The dead shall not praise You….”)
Judaism teaches we can learn a practical takeaway lesson from every detail of Torah to inform us how to live our lives more Jewishly and as better human beings. The identifying characteristic of the Etrtog and its freshness requirement can impact our lives long after this year’s Etrog is dried out and unusable.
When an Etrog is attached to the tree it remains fresh and it preserves and thrives in all seasons. Likewise, to forever have “spiritual moisture and freshness” and to remain proudly and staunchly Jewish under all circumstances a Jew must remain attached to the “Tree of Life” - the Torah.
That’s why the week-long presence of the Etrog in our lives flows straight into the joyous festival of Simchat Torah. The day we complete a full cycle of Torah learning and restart a new cycle of learning. Because learning Torah every day is the foundation every Jew needs to grow and thrive as a Jew should.
In honor of the new year and brand new Torah cycle, I encourage you to include Torah in your daily routine by studying the section of the weekly Torah portion that corresponds to each respective day. There are so many ways to do this but I recommend listening to an amazing daily class by Rabbi Yehoshua Gordon obm available here.