Succot

TAKING THE ARBA MINIM

The Arba Minim are taken every day of Succot, except on Shabbat.

When bound together, they must be held, all 4 species touching, with the Lulav in the right hand and the Etrog in the left. The 3 Hadassim must be on the right-hand side of the Lulav’s spine and should be slightly higher then the Aravot. (Left-handed people, like myself and Rabbi Yoni, should take the Lulav in the left hand and the Etrog in the right.) The Lulav is held with the spine facing you.

When they are first taken up (this year, on Sunday), the Etrog should be held upside down with the pitam facing downwards. The blessing al netilat lulav and shehecheyanu is said. The Etrog is reversed and all 4 species are shaken.

Hallel

The species are waved during Hallel at Hodu and Ana in the following way:

Hodu  FORWARD,  Lashem – NO WAVING.  Ki – RIGHT,  Tov  BEHIND, Ki  – LEFT,  Le’olam – UP,  Chasdo – DOWN

Ana – FORWARD AND RIGHT,  Hashem – NO WAVING.  Hoshia    BACK AND LEFT,  Na – UP AND DOWN