What comes to your mind when you think of Sukkot? If I had asked you what verb do you associate with Sukkot, which would you have come up with? During Sukkot, we are not only sitting in the sukkah. Well, yes, most of the time, so that is for sure a very important (paal) verb: לָשֶׁבֶת, root: ישב.
There is another Sukkot-only activity: the shaking of the lulav. Shaking what? The lulav, I come to that in a second. How do you say “to shake” in Hebrew:
a) To shake a bottle before opening: לְנַעֵר, piel, root: נער.
b) To shake as in “to wave”: לְנַעְנֵעַ piel, root: נענע.
Watch my video on the important sukkot verbs here: https://youtu.be/dTGucuvKc-s
As a result, we are waving the lulav in various directions. What, though, is a lulav? The lulav is made out of branches from four different types of plants or trees:
Palm branch: The palm branch serves as the bundle's focal point.
Myrtle branches: This is a grouping of three myrtle branches.
Willow branches: These are two bundled willow branches.
Citron fruit: This citrus fruit is not a part of the lulav bundle and is held separately.
One of the main customs related to the Jewish festival of Sukkot is shaking the lulav. This ceremony, which has its origins in ancient Jewish traditions, is very important to the holiday celebration. This is a symbolic act signifying cooperation, thanks, and wishes for a plentiful crop.
The four species of the lulav bundle represent various facets of the Jewish people and their obligations in terms of their spiritual and moral obligations:
Palm branch (lulav): The spine is symbolized by the lulav, which stands for strength and uprightness.
Myrtle branches (hadasim): Represent the eyes and promote enlightenment and spiritual awareness.
Willow branches (aravot): These express prayer and devotion and symbolize the lips.
The citron fruit, also known as etrog, symbolizes the heart and the value of good deeds and intentions.
We hold the lulav and etrog together on Sukkot and say blessings. Six directions are used to shake the lulav: right, left, forward, up, down, and back. Jews hold that God is present in all places and that His influence extends in all directions and dimensions.
We acknowledge God's presence in all facets of existence, show our unity with the world, and pray for a prosperous and fruitful year by shaking the lulav in all directions. Finally, this event has a historical and agricultural component. It serves as a reminder that everyone is related to God and that the Jewish people are traveling together on this journey.
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