The Arba minim

Abstract

"You shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of the hadar tree, the branches of date palms, twigs of a plaited tree, and brook willows; and you shall rejoice before HaShem, your G-d, for a seven day period" (Vayikra 23:40). This sentence is the source for the four plant species (i.e.,the arba minim) used on Succot. The hadar tree refers to the citron tree (Citrus medica), in particular, to its fruit, the etrog (citron); the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) which is the source of the lulav; the plaited tree is the myrtle tree (Myrtus communis), which has trifoliate groupings of leaves, forming a braided appearance, and comprises the hadasim; and the willow brook tree (Salix acmophylla) is the source of the aravot. The unit of the arba minim consists of one etrog, one lulav, two aravot branches, and three hadasim branches (Succah 34b).