2020/5781

The Pasuk states while discussing the Arba Minim, “U’LeKachtem Lachem BaYom HaRishon Pri Etz Hadar Kapot Temarim VeAnaf Etz VeArvei Nachal U’Semachtem Lifnei Hashem Elokeichem Shivat Yamim,” On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days (Vayikra 23:40).

The Gemara (Sukkah 31) asks whether it is permissible to have a dry Lulav on Yom Tov. Rabbi Yehuda holds that you can use it. However, Rava holds that you are unable to because just as the Etrog should be Hadar, so too the Lulav should also be Hadar. This is a troubling comparison; how can we compare the Lulav to the Etrog? The Etrog is beautiful, it has a good taste, and it is the full package, while the Lulav is used to make dates, and arguably not nearly as beautiful. The Etrog is clearly on a higher level of Mehudar, beauty. 

The Midrash, when discussing the Minim describes them each differently, which the Midrash writes is reflective of different types of Jews. “The Etrog has both a taste and an aroma; so, too, the people of Israel include individuals who have both Torah learning and good deeds. The date (the fruit of the Lulav) has a taste but no aroma; so, too, do the people of Israel include individuals who have Torah but do not have good deeds. The Hadas has an aroma but no taste; so, too, the people of Israel include individuals who have good deeds but do not possess Torah knowledge. The Aravah has neither taste nor aroma; so, too, the people of Israel include individuals who have neither Torah or good deeds.... Says God: "Let them all bond together in one bundle and atone for each other." This Midrash shows the need for all of the Jewish people to come together, and create a lasting unity between the Jewish people. 

The Lubavitcher Rebbe notes a fascinating insight into this Midrash. He states the Midrash does not say that these types of people make up the Jewish people, rather that they atone for each other. This means that a person can not simply be one, but in fact can and must be molded in all 4. There are times in a person’s life when they are like the Etrog, they feel extremely connected to Hashem in learning, davening, Chesed, and their connection to the rest of the world. There are also times they are like the Lulav, involved in Torah, but lacking in Chesed and Gemilut Chasadim of any kind. Additionally, there are times when a person may be involved in Chesed or other important matters, but forgets to connect to Hashem through davening and learning. Finally, there are times during which one does not feel connected to Hashem in any way, essentially a self-proclaimed “lazy day.” This balance is exactly what we are supposed to strive to achieve through the holiday of Sukkot; to find that perfect balance of accomplishing all that Hashem wants from us. Having just exited Yom Kippur and the Yamim Noraim, where we focused heavily on davening as a means to achieving a balance in all areas of life. Perhaps the Arba Minim are there to remind us that we do not always have that balance, and that is okay. 

Perhaps this answers our original question of how the Lulav can be Hadar just like the Etrog, where the physical Lulav may not be able to be as beautiful as the Etrog. That equilibrium in our lives can be Hadar. When we take the time and realize that we are not perfect and we have struggles and faults but we must discover how to balance our lives, that is when we can truly exemplify the Hadar we try to find in our lives.