Why should I buy Arbah Minim this year?
Shaking 4 different species of vegetation may seem meshugah to the outside world but the Jewish people run to a different spiritual rhythm! Jews have been performing this Mitzvah since ancient days.
Last year I focussed on the idea that each species represents a different type of Jew and how we must bind them together representing Jewish unity which is imperative.
Here is another idea I find so beautiful:
The 4 species also represent four aspects of the human beings existence.
Briefly: The Lulav corresponds to the human spine. The spine enables us to stand upright
The Torah expects us to stand tall and proud of who we are. To stand up for our values requires moral backbone.
The Etrog corresponds to the heart. When we perform Mitzvot it is not only about the actions we perform. Hashem wants the heart as well. The Etrog reminds us to approach our Judaism and life with love as well as reverence.
The Myrtle corresponds to the eyes indicting how careful we must be in choosing what we see. We live in a hype-visual society especially so with the amount of screen time we spend with TV and the internet. The Torah is teaching us that what we see certainly affects our view of the world which in turn changes our behaviour.
And the Willow leaves correspond to the lips. The Torah considers it paramount for us to be vigilant with our speech. Whilst it is important to be careful what food we consume due to the laws of Kashrut, it is even more important to consider the words we speak which can God forbid break another person’s world. Our task is to use our words to build people up.
There are many more reasons to inspire us to perform this Mitvzah. At its simplest we get back in touch with nature, in particular with fruits indiginous to the Holy Land of Israel.
I hope you will join me – Men and Women in this special Mitzvah and bring the shul to life with the 4 species!