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Children's Lulav and Etrog Toy
Set will make a fun gift
to bring for Sukkot. Comes in handy
plastic carrying case

$4.99 ea.
Lulav Carrying Case
With handle and zipper - reinforce tube that runs the full length of case 46" x 6.25"

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What to Look for In An Esrog

1. A beautiful esrog should be shaped like a tower, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. The esrog should also be straight; it should be recessed inward at the bottom where the stem grows; it should have a 'pitim' on the end opposite from the stem; it should be free of spots and blemishes; and it should be covered with bumps and depressions.

(Esrog grown
without pitim)

Click on the image for a larger view.

2. If the esrog does not have all of these features, it may still be valid for the sake of the mitzvah. Therefore, if an esrog is not recessed, the esrog is still valid, and an esrog that is smooth - without bumps - is also valid. And if the esrog does not have a 'pitim' it is also valid, unless it originally had one and it came off.

3. If part of the esrog's skin came off, or if it is dry, rotten, or punctured, it is not valid. If there are spots or blemishes that do not come off when a gentle rubbing, then it should be shown to a Rabbinic authority.

4. An esrog must be a pure bred, and not grafted from different species.

5. An esrog can be quite large in size, but it should not be smaller than an average egg.

The Festival of Sukkot begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur. It is quite a drastic transition, from one of the most solemn holidays in our year to one of the most joyous.

This festival is sometimes referred to as Zeman Simkhateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing. Sukkot lasts for seven days. The two days following the festival are separate holidays, Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah, but are commonly thought of as part of Sukkot.

The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. The name of the holiday is frequently translated "The Feast of Tabernacles," which, like many translations of technical Jewish terms, isn't terribly useful unless you already know what the term is referring to. The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is "Sue COAT," but is often pronounced as in Yiddish, to rhyme with "BOOK us."

Each day of Succos we take the Lulav and Esrog and wave it gently in every direction; right, left, forward, up, down, and to the rear, to show that Hashem is truly everywhere.

The Blessing on the Lulav

Take the Lulav in your right hand and say the blessing:

Boruch Atoh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ho-olom Asher Kid’shonu

B’mitzvoisov V’tzivonu Al Netilas Lulov.

The first time you do this, also say the blessing “Sheh-heh-che-yonu:”

Boruch Atoh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ho-olom Sheh-heh-che-yonu

V’kee-monu V’hi-gi-onu Lizman Hazeh.

During the morning service, we take the Lulav and Esrog and hold them during the Hallel prayer, waving them at certain points. Then we take out a Sefer torah and stand with it in the center of the synagogue (on the Bima), and circle it, holding our Lulav, as we recite a special prayer for blessing in the coming year. This is called Hoshaa-nos.