The Torah (Leviticus 23:40) calls for taking in hand four plant species on Sukkot, which one must acquire before the festival. The four species consist of: one etrog (citron), one lulav (palm frond), three (at minimum; some add more than three) hadas (myrtle) branches (in plural, hadasim), and two arava (willow) branches (in plural, aravot). The identification of these four species as the ones mentioned in the Torah, and likewise the ways of determining their validity, have been passed down by oral tradition.

The Torah (Leviticus 23:40) refers to the etrog as “the fruit of a pleasant tree” [pri etz hadar], which can also be rendered “the pleasant fruit of a tree.” The Sages learned from this expression that one must make an effort to ensure that all four species are of superior quality, in both beauty and in their fulfilling the halakhic qualifications for the mitzva. Therefore, one should not be overly economical when shopping for the four species, but rather should look to acquire species of superior quality and appearance.

The following broad guidelines apply to all four species:

It is important that the species are fresh and not dried out.

Species obtained by theft are invalid for the mitzva. Therefore, one must be careful not to pick any of the species from private or public gardens without permission. Similarly, one should make every effort to purchase them from a trustworthy vendor.

One must be careful not to confuse the correct species with other, similar plants. In this regard too, the reliability of the seller is very important.

In addition, there are specific requirements that apply separately to each of the four species.

It is essential to make sure that the fruit is indeed an etrog, not a similar fruit, or the product of an etrog tree that was grafted onto a different tree. It must also not be an etrog of orla, i.e., from a tree that was planted less than three years before the etrog grew. The way to ensure all this is to buy the etrog from a vendor whose credibility is above reproach.

Since the Torah calls the etrog “the fruit of a pleasant tree,” its general appearance must be beautiful, and this is the source of many of the halakhic requirements of the etrog.

The parts of the etrog are as follows (see image):

(1) the edge of the branch on which the etrog grew and which remains attached to its underneath part, called the oketz, the stem or peduncle;

(2) the textured and rough body of the etrog;

(3) the upper part of the etrog, which narrows and becomes gradually pointed, called hotem, the upper slope.

(4) Some etrogim have a woody, elongated protrusion at their upper end, which is a remnant of the style that appeared during the flowering of the fruit; this is called the pitam.

(5) At the top of this protrusion there is a widened tip, which is a remnant of the stigma at the top of the style in the flowering stage. This is called the shoshanta.

Since the laws of etrog are numerous and complex, only the main ones will be detailed here, those which will assist one in choosing a quality etrog. If one finds it difficult to choose an etrog or if doubts arise about its validity, he should consult a rabbi.

These are the main considerations one should consider when choosing an etrog:

(1) The volume of the etrog must be larger than that of an average egg.

(2) It is highly desirable that the etrog be yellow in color (all shades of yellow are acceptable), or a light green tending toward yellow.

(3) If the pitam of an etrog fell off during its growth on the tree, it is valid, but if the etrog had a pitam when it was picked and the pitam subsequently fell off, it is invalid. By examining the top of an etrog that has no pitam, it is possible to discern whether it grew without a pitam or if it had a pitam that fell off.

(4) The body of the etrog should be as free of discoloration as possible. If there are more than two areas where its color differs from the regular appearance of an etrog, a rabbi should be consulted.

(5) No part of the body of the etrog may be missing. A hole or a scratch invalidates it. But if it is apparent that the scratches were caused to the etrog while it was still on the tree and then it formed a scab, it is valid.

The lulav is a frond that grows in the center of the palm tree, before it begins to open up and branch out. The parts of the lulav are (see image):

(1) the central branch, called the shidra, literally, the spine;

(2) the leaves that branch out from both sides of the spine;

(3) the top, central leaf that emerges from the upper edge of the spine, called teyomet, or twin-leaf.

Each of the leaves, including the teyomet, is folded over, and consists of two halves attached to each other along a fold for their entire length.

When selecting a lulav, one should look for the following:

(1) The length of the lulav should be at least four handbreadths (about 32 cm) from the point of the connection of the lowest leaf to the spine, up to the end of the spine (the point from which the teyomet emerges). In practice, most of the lulavim on the market are considerably longer than this. In any event, the lulav should be longer than the hadasim.

(2) The spine should be covered with leaves on both sides. All the leaves should be adjacent to one another, all lying on the spine, so that the overall appearance of the lulav is similar to that of a single stick. Some people are particular that all the leaves should be stuck together, but this is not obligatory, and some actually prefer that the leaves should not be stuck together (see below, with regard to the laws of taking the lulav).

(3) One should make sure that in all the leaves, especially the teyomet, the two halves of the leaf are attached to each other along the fold for their entire length, and that the two halves are equal in width.

(4) The spine of the lulav should be straight, thereby ensuring that the overall appearance of the lulav is likewise straight.

(5) The lulav must be straight on the tip of the teyomet as well. It is also important that the teyomet be undamaged, meaning that the two halves of the leaf should not be separated and that it should not be dried out. For these reasons, some prefer to buy a lulav whose teyomet has a natural covering, called koreh, a thin brown membrane that encircles and protects the upper part of the lulav on the tree. In contrast, others prefer lulavim without koreh, so that one can see the teyomet and examine it to ensure its validity.

(6) If one cuts off a lulav from a tree by himself, he must make sure that the tree is a date-palm and not a different species of palm.

The Torah describes this species as “a bough of a leafy [avot] tree.” The word avot literally means a rope, and indeed, the structure of the leaves on the branches of the hadas, which we use in accordance with a tradition passed down through the generations, resembles a braided rope. The parts of the hadas are (see image):

(1) the central branch;

(2) the leaves;

(3) the top of the branch.

Sometimes the hadas has berries growing on it.

In choosing a hadas, the following should be kept in mind:

(1) The leaves of a valid hadas grow in groups of three and cover the entire branch. It is important that every set of three leaves emerges from the same point in height on the branch, and that the tops of the leaves should at least reach the base of the three leaves above it.

(2) The minimum length of a hadas is three handbreadths (about 24 cm). This length is measured from the base of the three lowest leaves to the top of the central branch. One must make sure that along the entire length of the hadas, or at least most of it, the leaves are arranged in sets of three with the level sprouting point.

(3) It is proper to make sure that the upper edge of the branch is not cut or broken.

(4) If there are berries on the hadas and they are not green, they should be removed before the festival.

The Torah states that one must take “aravot of the brook.” Based on a tradition, the Sages explained that this is referring to what we call a willow tree, which typically grows on river banks, and whose elongated leaves are reminiscent of a brook. The ends of its leaves are smooth and not serrated, and its branches are reddish in color (see image).

The following considerations should be taken into account when choosing an arava:

(1) The leaves of the arava should be long and relatively narrow.

(2) The edges of the leaves should be smooth or with small serrations that face a single direction, usually toward the tip of the leaf.

(3) Its branches should be red (this includes shades of dark brown). If the tree from which the arava was cut has some red branches, one may use the green branches of that tree as well. When buying the arava from a reliable vendor, there is no need to check for this.

(4) One must make sure that the top of the arava is not cut. Some prefer branches that have a young leaf sprouting from the top of the branch, known as the lavluv, as this is a clear indication that the branch is whole on top.

(5) The majority of the leaves of the arava must still be connected to the branch, and not have fallen off.

(6) Since the arava dries out quickly, it must be kept sufficiently moist in its package and one must take care that it remains fresh. If an arava has dried out, it should be replaced. To preserve the freshness of leaves of the arava and the hadas, many people keep the lulav, while bound with the hadasim and aravot, inside a plastic case or a damp towel. Many also keep the aravot in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness, especially before the festival.

Note: The laws regarding the validity of the four species on the first day of the festival are more stringent than on the other days of the festival. Therefore, if one of the species was damaged over the subsequent six days, it is recommended to ask a rabbi, as they might still be acceptable for use.

Apart from the four species themselves, it is recommended to equip oneself with the materials necessary to protect them and to bind them. Most etrogim are sold with a padded wrapping of some kind. It is also recommended to obtain an etrog box, which will help protect it and will make it easier to carry it to the synagogue each day. In addition, it is advisable to have a plastic case (there are various types that are made especially for the lulav) to protect the lulav and to make it easier to transport.

Until the species are bound together, it is recommended to keep the aravot and hadasim in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.