Related reading: Ashrei Yoshvei Veitecha - Text, Meaning, Audio, and Printable Guide and Eshet Chayil Printable PDF and Explanation.
The Four Species are the lulav, etrog, hadas and aravah, taken together during Sukkot with the blessing according to each community's custom. This page offers an original, clear explanation, practical steps, a child-friendly version, a printable/PDF outline FAQ a Sukkot quiz idea and a source/licensing note.
The content is designed for families, teachers, educators and communities preparing a short accessible page before the holiday. It does not replace a siddur, halachic guidance or proper inspection of the Four Species.
In Short: What Are the Four Species?
The Four Species are four different plants joined into one Sukkot mitzvah:
| Species | What is it? | Memory cue |
|---|---|---|
| Lulav | A closed palm branch | Tall, straight and prominent |
| Etrog | A special citrus fruit | A fruit with fragrance and taste |
| Hadas | A myrtle branch | Green leaves and a pleasant scent |
| Aravah | A willow branch | Simple and delicate |
Their connection is part of the beauty of the mitzvah: four different species, each with its own shape and character, held together. That makes this page especially useful for a family conversation about unity, difference and belonging inside the sukkah.
What Do We Do With the Four Species?
Before the holiday, prepare a kosher set: one lulav, one etrog, three hadasim and two aravot. Usually the lulav is bound together with the hadasim and aravot, while the etrog is held separately during the blessing and taking.
A short practical order:
- Check that all four species are ready.
- Hold the lulav bundle in the right hand and the etrog in the left, according to custom.
- Recite the blessing according to the siddur and community practice.
- The first time in the holiday, Shehecheyanu is generally added according to custom.
- Bring the etrog together with the lulav bundle.
- Wave the Four Species together according to the community's order.
Customs differ regarding details of holding, waving and blessings. An official printable page should refer users to the community siddur or include only text that has been checked for source, rite and licensing.
When Are the Four Species Taken?
The Four Species are taken during the day on Sukkot, not at night. The lulav is not taken on Shabbat. Many people take them in the morning, before or during Shacharit, and some do so in the sukkah when possible.
For a practical pre-holiday page, keep the guidance simple: prepare the Four Species before the holiday, make sure they are kosher, and check the local custom for the blessing and waving.
The Source of the Mitzvah
The source appears in the Torah, in Parashat Emor, in the verse that speaks of taking "the fruit of a beautiful tree," "branches of palm trees," "boughs of leafy trees" and "willows of the brook," and rejoicing before God. In Jewish tradition these are identified with the etrog, lulav, hadas and aravah.
For educational use on the site, it is best to refer to the verse or quote it briefly after checking the exact wording. If a vocalized verse, full translation or formatted source text is added, it should be marked for review.
For Children: How Do We Explain the Four Species?
You can say:
On Sukkot we take four very different species: a tall lulav, a beautiful etrog, a fragrant hadas and a simple aravah. Each one looks different on its own, but when we hold them together they become one mitzvah. They remind us that different people can belong to one family, one class and one people.
A short children's activity:
- Place four cards on the table: lulav, etrog, hadas, aravah.
- Add clue cards: tall, fruit, fragrance, brook.
- Children match each clue to the right species.
- Each child chooses one species and names a good quality we can learn from it.
- End with the question: what connects us even when we are different?
Printable Four Species Page
A good PDF should be short, clear and easy to read in the sukkah, classroom or synagogue. A suggested structure:
Title
The Four Species - A Short Family Guide
What Do We Prepare?
| What is needed? | Common quantity | Pre-holiday check |
|---|---|---|
| Lulav | 1 | Straight, closed and kosher according to proper inspection |
| Hadasim | 3 | Fresh, ordered green leaves |
| Aravot | 2 | Fresh leaves, not dried out |
| Etrog | 1 | Whole, without a significant blemish and checked as kosher |
Before Taking Them
- Prepare the Four Species in an accessible place.
- Check the siddur or community handout.
- Recite only a blessing text that has been reviewed.
- Wave according to custom.
- Add a family question or short quiz question.
Quiz Question for the Page
Which of the Four Species is a fruit?
- Lulav
- Etrog
- Hadas
- Aravah
Answer: Etrog.
Sukkot Quiz Idea
Connect the page to a short game called "Which of the Four Species Am I?"
Read a clue and let participants identify the species:
- I am tall and come from a palm tree.
- I am a special citrus fruit.
- I have a pleasant scent and green leaves.
- I am simple and delicate, and I recall a brook.
Suggested CTA: Open a family Sukkot quiz and add a "Four Species" round: identify, match, ask and learn how difference can become connection.
FAQ
What are the Four Species?
The Four Species are lulav, etrog, hadas and aravah. On Sukkot they are taken together with the blessing according to community custom.
How many hadasim and aravot are needed?
The common set includes one lulav, one etrog, three hadasim and two aravot. It is important to buy a kosher set or have it checked by someone qualified.
When are the Four Species taken?
They are taken during the day on the Sukkot days when the mitzvah is performed. The lulav is not taken on Shabbat and the blessing is not recited at night.
Must they be taken specifically in the sukkah?
Many people take them in the sukkah when possible, but practices and circumstances vary. Follow the siddur, community custom and qualified guidance.
What blessing is recited over the Four Species?
The blessing is known as "al netilat lulav," and the first time in the holiday Shehecheyanu is generally added according to custom. A full vocalized blessing should come only from a reviewed public-domain or licensed source.
Does this page include the full blessing text?
How can the Four Species be explained to children?
Emphasize that every species is different: one is tall, one is a fruit, one is fragrant and one is simple. Together they teach unity and a place for everyone in the family and the Jewish people.
What is done with the Four Species after Sukkot?
Customs vary regarding saving them, using them respectfully or disposing of them respectfully after the holiday. An official page should follow community custom or refer readers to a local rabbi.