Lulav & Etrog

A Source Sheet for Jewish Witches and Witchy Jews about the lulav and etrog used for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot

Lulav (Palm, Myrtle, Willow)

It is made up of 3 pieces of myrtle, 2 willow, 1 palm branch as well as an etrog (citron).
In the choice of plants – it also illustrates the connection to water (EJMMM) 

• Palm is dry 

• Willow is connected to water, and dries out during the week 

• Myrtle retains its moisture during the week 

• Etrog is a vessel of moisture 

The parts of the Lulav also represent parts of the body and the letters of the Tetragrammaton, as follows: 

• Etrog: Heart; yud 

• Myrtle: Eyes; hei 

• Palm: Spine; vav 

• Willow: Mouth; hei 

The four species and the four kinds of Jews (Babylonian Talmud, Succah 30:13a) 

• The Etrog (smell and taste) is the Jew who combines Torah study with good deeds. 

• The Lulav (taste but no smell) is the Jew who studies Torah, but does no good deeds. 

• The Hadas (smell but no taste) is the Jew who performs good deeds, but does not study Torah. The Arava (no smell, no taste) is the Jew who neither studies Torah nor performs good deeds 

The four species are also connected to the Matriarchs and Patriarchs ((Babylonian Talmud, Succah 30a:11): 

• Etrog: Avraham and Sarah 

• Lulav (palm): Isaac and Rebekah 

• Myrtle: Jacob and Leah 

• Willow: Josef and Rachel 

Four Species and Jewish festivals (Rabbi D. Gottlieb to his teacher. Lecture: Inner Dimensions of Simcha on Succot. Ohr Somayach Lecture Series, Jerusalem via The Esrog by Zadie Reuven) 

• Etrog: Yom Kippur 

• Lulav (palm): Rosh Hashanah 

• Myrtle: Sukkot 

• Willow: Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret 

[Deep dive below on Palm, Willow, Myrtle, and Etrog for paid subscribers only.]

Palm – Lulav

• While “lulav” and the palm branches that are part of the lulav are often used interchangablely, the Torah does not use the word “lulav.”  However, writings often mean the palm branch aspect of a full lulav when that word is used. 

• One who sees a palm branch [lulav] in a dream, it is a sign that he has but one heart for his Father in heaven. Lulav is interpreted homiletically as lo lev, he has a heart. (Berakhot 57a.9) 

• The gematria of Lulav is the same as chayyim (life) = 68 (Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols) 

• Represents the sephira of Yesod 

• From JPS Guide to Jewish Tradition: 

  • The palm branch (lulav) is one of the Four Species carried in the hoshanot processions in the synagogue during Sukkot. According to tradition, the date—a tasty fruit but devoid of fragrance—symbolizes the person who has extensive learning but a paucity of good deeds (Lev. R. 30:12). According to the Talmud, “If one sees palm trees in a dream, his sins will come to an end” (Ber. 57a). 

  • The Midrash compared the Jewish people to the palm tree: “As no part of the palm has any waste—the dates are eaten, the branches used for Hallel, the twigs for covering [the sukkah], the bast [inner bark] for ropes, the leaves for brooms, and the planed boards for ceiling rooms—so are there none worthless in Israel” (Gen. R. 41:1). 

• The Date Palm is connected to the mythical bird the phoenix (multiple sources) 

Myrtle: The Symbol & Scent of Eden / World To Come

• Messianic Redemption (Isaiah 55:12-13 via EJS) 

• imortality, good luck, hope for nourishment of rain (EJS) 

• Queen Esther (book of Esther 2:7 via EJS) 

• Threefold myrtus communis is preferred for lulav 

• Scent was used to welcome Shabbat and as part of havdalah to harmonize the soul as it received and released its extra soul (EJS / EJMM) 

• Aids journey of souls in death (EJS) 

• Used to welcome/invoke Ushpizin (sacred ancestors) (EJS) 

• Communing with the dead (Sefer haRazim / Maimomedes via Jewish Magic Before teh Rise of Kabbalah) 

• This shrub is the one on which souls grow (“Tola’at Ya’aḳob,” p. 27; “Shene Luḥot ha-Berit, “p. 139b), and its three verticils symbolize the three patriarchs (Zohar, l.c.; “Tiḳḳunim,” 3b).  Jewish Encyclopedia 

• I will lead them to the garden of myrtle [gan hadas], i.e., the Garden of Eden. (Shabbat 104a:13) 

• Contrary to the body, the “vital force” (which is mental strength) can be improved by sweet fragrances like those of myrrh, amber, basil, roses, myrtle, and more. (Source) 

• In the Talmud in Beitza Chapter 1 Page 6A, Rashi comments that it was acustom to place myrtle branches on a coffin to beautify it and honor thedead. (Source #30) 

 Willow (Psalm 124)

• Symbol of water and our dependence on it

• Has neither taste or fragrance

• JPS Guide to Jewish Tradition 

  • The willow, which dries up quickly, is compared to Joseph, who diedbefore all his brothers. 

  • The major ritual of Hoshana Rabbah was the striking of willow branches against the ground near the altar, which symbolized a casting away of sins and was the reason for it being considered the finalDay of Judgment.1  In most synagogues, congregants use aseparate bunch of willows for this ceremony; in others, the willows are taken from the lulav.

Etrog (Psalm 122)

• Fertility and childbirth.  Etrogs (used during Sukkot) are eaten by women who are pregnant for protection during childbirth and to ease labor pains.  Etrog stems might also be placed in the bed of a woman in labor to assist a difficult labor.  I’ve also read about people making ointments and potions from the etrog to ease labor pains. (EJMM)

• Self-cleansing before creating an amulet (Sefer Raziel ). For this, an incantation is written on the etrog – then you clean the etrog with wine before eating it. 

• Some traditions consider it to be the “forbidden fruit” in the garden of eden (Midrash Rabbah: Bereshit 15:7) 

  • This makes sense, with it’s connection to fertility.  Since humanity was born from Chava, as mother of all living, after eating the “forbidden fruit.” 

  • Considered an aphrodisiac for men, which also tracks here. 

• The Etrog by Zadie Reuven

  • Water and renewal of the land and the Earth-Authority (prince, king, government)

  • On tombstones, sarcophagi and catacomb decorations the use of the Esrog as a symbol may have indicated “Here lies a good Jew”.

  • symbol for Jewish hope and aspirations both for this life and the next

  •  Eternity – Esrog never rots, but is preserved 

  • Gematria: When the Esrog (אתרוג) is held together with the other three Species (the Lulav, Hadas and Arava are bound together), guess what? 610 + 3 = 613. The number of commandments in the Torah!!

  • Possibly an acronym for “Beware of Arrogance” with an alternative spelling of Etrog that removes the fav (אתרג).  Using first letter of each word from. Psalm 36:12 – Bring me not to the point of arrogance 

  • In our prayers we aspire to attain perfection in each of these items. Notice then that the initial letters of each of these items spells the word (אתרוג) – Etrog, a symbol of perfection, beauty and wholeness. 

    •  Emunah (א)  – Faith

    • Teshuvah (ת) – Repentance

    • Refuah (ר) – Healing

    • Geulah (ג) – Redemption

  • Medicinal Uses Include:

    • antidote for poisoning

    • Fertility

    • Bad breath

    • Stomach tonic

    • Toothwash/gum tonic

  • Other Uses

    • as a handle for the knife used during circumcision 

    • For storage, the Esrog is protected in a wrapping of soft flax-like fiber which may be kept to make wicks for the candles or oil lamps used in the festival of Chanukah.

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