October 4, 2012
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Shakin’ the Lulav!
Okay, you know me and Leviticus 23. It’s like me and Revelations… I’m just THERE. A lot. And guess what Leviticus 23 says about Sukkot?
On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days. – Leviticus 23:40
The fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree, and brook willows. This is called the ‘Four Species’, and I’ve actually never addressed the four species, here. We (in our lapbooks) learned about them as a family last year, but I never put anything up regarding them, so… let’s do that, today!
Here’s what JewFAQ has to say:
Another observance during Sukkot involves what are known as the Four Species (arba minim in Hebrew) or the lulav and etrog. We are commanded to take these four plants and use them to “rejoice before the L-rd.” The four species in question are an etrog (a citrus fruit similar to a lemon native to Israel; in English it is called a citron), a palm branch (in Hebrew, lulav), two willow branches (aravot) and three myrtle branches (hadassim). The six branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the lulav, because the palm branch is by far the largest part. The etrog is held separately. With these four species in hand, one recites a blessing and waves the species in all six directions (east, south, west, north, up and down), symbolizing the fact that Yehovah is everywhere.
…Why are these four plants used instead of other plants? There are two primary explanations of the symbolic significance of these plants: that they represent different parts of the body, or that they represent different kinds of Jews.
According to the first interpretation, the long straight palm branch represents the spine. The myrtle leaf, which is a small oval, represents the eye. The willow leaf, a long oval, represents the mouth, and the etrog fruit represents the heart. All of these parts have the potential to be used for sin, but should join together in the performance of mitzvot (commandments).
aNNa’S NoTe: Remember ‘More Four’… the series I’ve done on Biblical Love and it’s relationship to the number four? The four in the NT (Mark 12:30) are Heart-Soul-Mind-Strength. If we look at the parts of the body delegated to these ‘four species’… we have etrog(heart), palm(strength/spine), willow(mouth/?) and myrtle (eye/?). I don’t know which is which for the eye and mouth, but that’s interesting to consider, isn’t it? Continuing on…According to the second interpretation, the etrog, which has both a pleasing taste and a pleasing scent, represents Jews who have achieved both knowledge of Torah and performance of mitzvot. The palm branch, which produces tasty fruit, but has no scent, represents Jews who have knowledge of Torah but are lacking in mitzvot. The myrtle leaf, which has a strong scent but no taste, represents Jews who perform mitzvot but have little knowledge of Torah. The willow, which has neither taste nor scent, represents Jews who have no knowledge of Torah and do not perform the mitzvot.
We bring all four of these species together on Sukkot to remind us that every one of these four kinds of Jews is important, and that we must all be united.
Isn’t that interesting? I’d have to change that end statement (personally) to we must stand United in Christ. But that’s just me. And you know me. ((wink!))
AND…! I’ve got a really fun video for you, to go along with all of this! This video… my kids love it, but it has really struck a chord with me, because it reminds me of a singles Bible study I was in while living on-base in the Air Force as a college student. These guys are EXACTLY like the ones I hung out with… Even LOOK like them a bit! The lead would be Pat, the bearded one Mike, the older man Col. Tague, and the tie-man Chaplain B. It’s SOOO much like them… so this video just tickles me pink. ((grins))
So there’s something new I’ve never written before! And of course this is a first day of the feast thing, and we’re into the feast pretty far, now, but… hey. It’s never too late to learn something new. And Jews actually shake the lulav while walking around the podium of their church every night during Sukkot, so it’s not actually JUST a first day thing!
Anyhow, I thought this was good stuff, and worth mentioning. Hope it helps!
Sukkot – Day 4!!
