Preparing for Succot

1 October 2009, 12:09 am

Selecting lulav and etrog are (from left) David Rubin, Shuki Wyman and Gideon Rubin. Photo: Peter Haskin

AJN STAFF

YOUNG and old turned out to the annual lulav and etrog selection at the Mizrachi centre in Melbourne on Tuesday September 29 to choose their perfect lulav and etrog.

Collectively known as the arba’ah minim, or four species, the lulav, hadass (myrtle leaves) and aravah (willow) are held together with the etrog and waved in a ceremony commanded in the book of Vayikra or Leviticus: “And you shall take for yourselves on the first day [of Succot], the fruit of the beautiful [citron] tree, tightly bound branches of date palms, the branch of the braided [myrtle] tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.”