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 Arba'ah Minim/ |
 The 4 species are lifted and held on each day of the festival of Sukkos (which begins 5 days after Yom Kippur), except for Shabbos. The Arba Minim consist of the lulav (palm branch), hadassim (3 myrtle branches), aravos (2 willow branches) and an esrog (citron). The general custom is to recite the appropriate blessing and hold the 4 species and wave them in the 4 directions of the compass, up and down, either at home or in the synagogue.
 "Take the four species on the festival of
Sukkoth - You shall take for yourselves on the first day the
fruit of a citron 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." Leviticus 23:40
  The 4 Species are rich in symbolism. The esrog resembles the heart, the lulav - the spine, the hadasim - the eyes and the aravos - the lips. Together, they symbolize the need for a person to utilize all his faculties in the service of Hashem. In addition, the esrog, which has both a taste and a pleasant smell, symbolizes one who excels in both scholarship and good deeds; the fruit of the lulav, while having a taste but no smell, symbolizes only scholarship and the myrtle, which has no taste but does have a pleasing smell represents a person who excels in good deeds; and finally the willow, which lacks both, represents a person who has neither. The 4 Species, held together, represent the unity of all members of the community of Israel.
 Though the mitzvah of the 4 Species is fulfilled by merely holding them, a highlight of Sukkos is bringing the esrog and the lulav bundle to the synagogue where they are held and waved during the singing of Hallel (Psalms that are sung during holidays), then carried in a circuit during the "hoshana" service.
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