A ritual of unity woven from the diverse geography of a land

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Why do observant Jews wave four specific plants during the holiday of Sukkot? Beyond the physical ceremony lies a profound symbolic map of human character, geographical unity, and a plea for the survival of the natural world, reflecting a deep connection between spiritual devotion and the physical landscape of the land.

The 'four species' (arba'at ha-minim) consist of the etrog (citron fruit), lulav (palm frond), hadass (myrtle bough), and aravah (willow branch). These were originally commanded in the Torah to be taken on the first day of Sukkot. Historically, these plants were not widespread in a single area; the etrog grew in coastal plains, lulav near valleys, hadass in mountains, and aravah near wadis. This geographical distribution meant that during the era of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jews from across the land had to gather together to share species from their respective regions, creating a physical manifestation of national unity.

Following the destruction of the Temple, the practice shifted from a localized gathering to a symbolic one. The binding of the four plants came to represent the unification of four categories of people in service of God: those who study Torah but lack good deeds (lulav), those with good deeds but no study (hadass), those lacking both (aravah), and those possessing both (etrog). Additionally, the plants are often seen as symbols of the human body, with their shapes alluding to various organs, representing the consecration of one's entire being.

The ritual of 'na'anu'im'—shaking the species in six directions—serves a dual purpose. It acknowledges God's mastery over the universe while simultaneously acting as a symbolic prayer for rainfall. Because all four species require significant amounts of water to thrive, waving them in every direction serves as a petition for abundant rain to sustain the earth's vegetation in the coming year. Today, while transportation has made the species accessible, the practice remains a balance of 'hadar' (beauty) and 'hiddur mitzvah' (beautifying the commandment), where the perfection of the plants is highly valued.

The physical handling of these items is governed by strict tradition. For example, the etrog must be held with the stem end down and the blossom end up, reflecting its growth direction. In some customs, the etrog is even turned upside-down before a blessing is recited to ensure the commandment is not technically fulfilled before the prayer is spoken.

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