UCal | The Order of Taking the Four Species

The Four Species

The mitzvah of taking the Four Species applies on all the days of Sukkot (except Shabbat), and its source is the verse "וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל" — "On the first day you shall take for yourselves the fruit of the hadar tree, branches of date palms, boughs of the myrtle tree, and willows of the brook" (Leviticus 23:40).

Lulav (palm branch)

Etrog (citron)

Hadas (myrtle)

Aravah (willow)

The Steps (common to all communities)

Binding the species

The lulav, hadas (myrtle) and aravah (willow) are bound together (usually in a holder or with a tie), with the lulav in the middle, the hadas on its right and the aravah on its left. The etrog is not bound with them and stays separate.
Holding in the hand

In the right hand hold the lulav with the hadas and aravah, the way they grow — the base below and the top above. In the left hand, next to the lulav, hold the etrog.
The etrog upside down — before the blessing

Before saying the blessing, hold the etrog upside down — its stem (oketz) up and its tip (pitam) down — contrary to the way it grows, so as not to fulfill the mitzvah before the blessing.
The Blessing

On every day of the festival: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת לוּלָב.

And on the first day only (the first taking of the festival): בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Turning the etrog over — right after the blessing

Right after finishing the blessing, turn the etrog over to the way it grows — stem down and tip up — and thereby fulfill the mitzvah in practice.

Binding the Species — When, How and How Many Knots

It is a mitzvah to bind the three species together — the lulav, the hadassim and the aravot — while the etrog stays separate. The usual set: one lulav, three hadassim and two aravot.

When to bind: preferably on the eve of the holiday, before it begins — on Shabbat and Yom Tov it is forbidden to tie a double (permanent) knot. Someone who did not bind in advance should ask a rabbi how to bind on Yom Tov itself.

On the first day: the first taking of the holiday is the one with the Shehecheyanu blessing. When the first day of Yom Tov falls on Shabbat the lulav is not taken on Shabbat — bind it before Shabbat, and the first taking is on the day after.

Arranging the species

The hadassim go to the right of the lulav spine and the aravot to its left. The hadassim are tied slightly higher than the aravot, and the lulav spine should protrude a handbreadth (tefach) above the top tie, leaving room to shake.

How many knots

A double knot (a knot on top of a knot) is used to bind the three species. In addition the lulav leaves themselves are tied — usually with three double knots — leaving the top end loose so the leaves rustle during the wavings (kiskus). Some make five knots and some are careful to make eighteen — each person should follow the custom of his ancestors.

Arranging the species

Three hadassim — one on the right, one on the left and one in the middle; and two aravot — one on the right and one on the left. The hadassim are tied a little higher than the aravot, and the lulav spine protrudes a handbreadth above the top binding, leaving room to shake.

How many knots

According to the Kaf HaChaim the custom is to make eighteen knots in the lulav itself, apart from the tie that binds the hadas and arava to the lulav; and after the fact a single knot suffices (Mateh Moshe). Sephardim do not rustle the leaves during the wavings.

Arranging the species

According to the Arizal: one hadas on the right, one on the left and one in the middle; and one arava on the right and one on the left — as detailed for the Sephardim.

How many knots

The kabbalistic custom: eighteen knots (the numerical value of "chai"). The exact placement differs between sources — some make all eighteen on the lulav itself, others fifteen on the lulav and three where the hadassim and aravot are bound. Chassidim who follow the Arizal generally do the same, but the details differ between chassidic courts — consult your community rabbi.

The Wavings — According to the Community

In each direction: extend the Four Species toward that direction while tilting the top of the lulav slightly, and bring them back to the chest — three times in each direction. According to the Ashkenazi custom, the order of the directions is:

1 East

2 South

3 West

4 North

5 Up

6 Down

Turning to face each direction

Some turn their face and body toward each direction while shaking, and others stay facing east throughout and simply direct the lulav toward the direction. For someone who turns, the turning in order is:

East — stand straight, facing east.
South — turn to the right.
West — keep turning to the right.
North — keep turning to the right.
Up and down — turn right once more back to the east, and shake upward and downward facing east.

All of these customs are good, and it is right for each person to continue the custom of his ancestors.

The waving is done right after the blessing, and also when saying "הוֹדוּ לַה' כִּי טוֹב" and "אָנָּא ה' הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא" in Hallel, and during Hoshanot.

Regarding women: according to the Rema, women who wish to may recite the blessing and perform positive time-bound commandments, including taking the lulav.

Here too, extend the Four Species toward each direction while tilting the top of the lulav, and bring them back to the chest. According to the accepted custom among Sephardim and Chassidim (following the intention of the Arizal), the order of the directions is:

1 South

2 North

3 East

4 Up

5 Down

6 West

Turning to face each direction

According to the Arizal one turns the face toward the direction being shaken. For someone who turns, the turning in order is:

South — turn to the right.
North — turn left a half-turn (passing through east).
East — turn right to face east.
Up and down — stay facing east.
West — turn a half-turn to face backward, and afterward turn back to face east.

In Chabad the custom is mostly to stand facing east during the wavings. All of these customs are good, and it is right for each person to continue the custom of his ancestors.

The waving is done right after the blessing, and also when saying "הוֹדוּ" and "אָנָּא ה'" in Hallel, and during Hoshanot — according to the Kabbalistic order above.

Regarding women: according to Maran the Shulchan Aruch, women do not recite blessings on positive time-bound commandments, and therefore do not bless on taking the lulav (although they are permitted to take it without a blessing).

Information and texts courtesy of Peninei Halakha — Rabbi Eliezer Melamed ו־Chabad House · Peninei Halacha — Binding the Species · Peninei Halacha — The Form of the Wavings · Mikra'ei Kodesh — Binding the Species · Before performing the mitzvah, consult a rabbi for your community's exact customs.

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סֵדֶר נְטִילַת אַרְבַּעַת הַמִּינִים

The Four Species

The Steps (common to all communities)

Binding the Species — When, How and How Many Knots

The Wavings — According to the Community