LULAV – ETROG – FOUR SPECIES

"And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of goodly trees" (Leviticus 23:40)

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The Four Species: (from left to right)

Willow (Arava), Palm (Lulav), Myrtle (Hadas), Citron (Etrog).

Once again, we are pleased to provide beautiful sets of Lulav and Esrog featuring meyuchas (kosher, non-grafted) Esrogim.

Where do our Esrogim come from?

This year our Esrogim will come fmor our exclusive farms in ISRAEL and CALIFORNIA> Moroccon and Yanaver Esrogim can be obtained on request.

Which Varieties of Esrogim do you sell?

We have four types of Esrogim available, according to your preference (typical shapes shown for each variety):

(CLICK to see larger image)

Temani (Yemenite). Grown from Esrogim or trees imported by Yemenite Jews.

Note the long shape with longitudinal furrows.

Chazon Ish (Lefkowitz). The Chazon Ish once saw a certain Esrog and pronounced "This is an Esrog". The seeds from that Esrog were planted by the RAMI (Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz) and have given rise to the LEFKOWITZ type.

Note the egg-shape and the PITAM on this particular Esrog.

Chazon Ish (Halpern). The Chazon Ish saw another Esrog and told its owner to planted its seeds. This gave rise to the HALPERN strain. It is unclear as to what difference was implied betweeen the Chazon Ish’s remark "This is an Esrog" for the Lefkowitz Esrog and instruction to plant what became the Halpern Esrog.

Braverman. These Esrogim were attested to by Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, the Brisker Rav, who upon seeing a certain Esrog tree remarked "This is my tree". From this tree the Braverman family established their stock in Petach Tikva. A sub-strain of Braverman is the KIVILEVITZ variety.

Note the bumpy appearance.

IF YOU DON’T SPECIFY we will still send you a nice Esrog.

On special request only we can supply Esrogim from specific sources – eg Yanaver (Italy) or Morocco.

Yanaver Etrogim – derive their name from Genoa, the port in northern Italy through which most Italian etrogim were once shipped. The etrogim actually grow in the southern part of Italy in Calabria. Note the sturdy girth. There are only a few kosher Etrog orchards left in S. Italy, the other orchards are devoted to production of citrons for culinary use.

This variety is favored by many Chasidim, especially Chabad (Lubavitch), based on a Midrash, that Moses was transported from Sinai to Italy to see exactly what a “fruit of the goodly tree” was.

Chabad have cultivated a variety of this Etrog in Israel – called “Kfar Chabad”.

Moroccon etrogim grow wild in the mountains of western Morocco. They have a characteristic shape shown above against the backdrop of a book by one of the foremost experts on the Moroccon Etrog – Rabbi Yasher Levy, whose beautifully illustrated book (Hebrew and French) can be obtained on request.

Moroccan etrogim are favored by many Sephardim.

Are they Kosher?

ISRAELI Esrogim are under the Hechsher of Rabbi Nissim Karelitz. CALIFORNIAN esrogim are under the Hechsher of Rabbi Avrom Teichman, head of Kehilla Kashrus and the Rav of Agudas Israel, Los Angeles.Israel, Los Angeles.

What if they are green?

Some of the photographs above were taken from freshly cut esrogim. They can be ripened by placing them in a cardboard box (or paper bag) with some yellow apples for a few days.

Does my Esrog Need a Pitam?

Esrogim are available with and without the pitam - the protruberance on the top of the esrog. (Shown in pictures) There is some confusion as to the kashrut of the esrogim that do not have a pitam. The rule is as follows: if the pitam falls from the esrog naturally while on the tree, the esrog is kosher. if the pitam is knocked off after picking, the esrog is NOT kosher. Experts can tell the difference, and all of our pitamless esrogim are certified kosher.

When should I place my order?

As soon as possible, preferably before Sunday 9th September. We will accept orders after that. In an extreme emergency and with special rabbinic approval we have accepted orders even an hour before Succot.

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