×
Friend,    With Purim right around the corner, Sefaria is busy preparing for the “Purim bump” — the increase in users who visit Sefaria to celebrate the holiday. Last year, more than 100,000 people visited the library or used the app to connect with the holiday or read along with Megillat Esther. This year we’re expecting even more.    To help with our text and tech preparations ahead of this busy time, a generous Jewish foundation is matching all gifts to the library up to $36,000.    Please give today to help us meet your learning needs!     
Notable Sources
All Sources
A
The Debate Over the Etrog
MISHNAH
The rabbis debated the specific measurements and physical criteria for the etrog, a key ritual object during Sukkot. The Mishnah, a foundational Jewish text from around 200 CE, records these differing rabbinic opinions on the etrog's size and requirements.
The Miraculous Etrogim
CHASIDUT
The miraculous arrival of etrogim underscores the profound faith in the righteous of the generation. In the early 19th-century teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the story of the etrogim highlights the Rebbe's trust in the righteous individuals of his time, particularly Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
The Etrog and the Tree of Knowledge
COMMENTARY
The etrog, one of the four species used during Sukkot, is intriguingly connected to the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. In the 14th-century Kitzur Ba'al HaTurim, Rabbi Jacob ben Asher interprets the phrase 'fruit of a beautiful tree' from Leviticus 23:40 to suggest that the Tree of Knowledge was a citron (etrog).
Beautifying Commandments
MUSAR
Enhancing mitzvot through financial means is a way to show generosity and dedication to one's faith. The 15th-century ethical work Orchot Tzadikim emphasizes the importance of beautifying commandments, using examples like Rabban Gamliel's special etrog.
Enhancing Havdalah with the Etrog
HALAKHAH
The etrog from Sukkot can be repurposed for use as the spice in the Havdalah ceremony, adding a unique and meaningful touch to the ritual. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary halakhic work explains the method of inserting cloves into the etrog and the appropriate blessing to recite over it.
The Wisdom of King Solomon and the Four Species
MIDRASH
Even the wise King Solomon had to deliberate to identify the four species used in the mitzvah of the lulav and etrog. The fifth-century midrash Vayikra Rabbah recounts the process of discerning the significance of the four species and the role of the sages in clarifying their identity.
Orlah and the Etrog Tree
HALAKHAH
The prohibition of orlah applies even to trees planted for religious purposes, such as an etrog tree for the mitzvah of lulav and etrog. In his 12th-century legal code, the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides discusses the conditions under which the orlah prohibition applies or is exempt.
Purchasing the Etrog in a Sabbatical Year
TALMUD
The rabbis devised a clever method to avoid direct payment for the etrog during a sabbatical year, ensuring the mitzvah is performed correctly. The Gemara in Tractate Sukkah discusses how to incorporate the cost of the etrog into the price of the lulav when the seller is unwilling to give it as a gift.
What Makes an Etrog Whole?
HALAKHAH
The halakhic definition of 'missing' (ḥaser) in an etrog is crucial for fulfilling the mitzvah of the Four Species during Sukkot. Rabbi J. David Bleich, a contemporary halakhic authority, argues that a microscopic erosion does not render an etrog as ḥaser, as it must be perceivable by normal human examination.
The Kosher Etrog
TALMUD
The etrog, a central element of the Sukkot festival, must meet specific criteria to be considered kosher, and understanding what disqualifies an etrog is crucial for proper observance. The Jerusalem Talmud, a foundational text of Rabbinic Judaism, delves into the intricate laws governing the etrog, including what renders it disqualified for ritual use.
The Legal Intricacies of Tu BiShvat
JEWISH THOUGHT
The legal questions surrounding the determination of the 15th of Shevat as the New Year for Trees, especially for unusual fruits like the etrog, are fascinating and complex. Rabbi Yoel Bin-Nun's work delves into the intricate discussions and legal considerations that define Tu BiShvat, particularly focusing on unique fruits.
The Etrog and the Sabbatical Year
GUIDES
The sabbatical year imposes unique restrictions on the etrog, affecting its use in fulfilling the mitzva during Sukkot. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz summarizes the Talmud's discussion of the implications of sabbatical year laws on the etrog, particularly the prohibition against using an etrog purchased with money exchanged for sabbatical year produce.
The Etrog of Transition
TALMUD
The classification of an etrog that transitions from the sixth year to the sabbatical year has significant implications for its use and tithing obligations. The Talmudic discussion between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish in Tractate Rosh Hashanah addresses the status of such an etrog and its associated liabilities.
A Prayer for a Perfect Etrog
LITURGY
The prayer emphasizes the importance of performing the mitzvah of taking the Four Species with a perfect and superior etrog. In this prayer, Rabbi Yosef Hayyim of Baghdad asks for divine assistance to fulfill the mitzvah of taking the lulav, myrtle, willow, and etrog during Sukkot.
Etrog Container 1896, Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman. the Jewish Museum, New York.
Etrog Container 1896, Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman. the Jewish Museum, New York.
We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria. Learn More.OKאנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.קראו עוד בנושאלחצו כאן לאישור