The Mishnah on the Four Species
9. And where [in the Hallel service1] do they wave [the lulav]? At Give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 118:1), at the beginning and at the end, and at O Lord, deliver us (Psalm 118:25), the words of Beth Hillel. Beth Shammai says: Also at O Lord, let us prosper (ibid.). R. Akiva says: I was watching Rabban Gamaliel and R. Joshua, and while all the people were waving their lulavs [at O Lord, let us prosper], they waved them only at O Lord, deliver us.
One who was on a journey and had no lulav to take, when he enters his house he should take it [even if he is] at his table. If he did not take the lulav in the morning, he should take it at any time before dusk, since the whole day is valid for [taking] the lulav. [ . . . ]
12. In earlier times, the lulav was taken for seven days in the Temple, and in the provinces for one day only. When the Temple was destroyed, R. Yoḥanan ben Zakkai decreed that the lulav should be taken in the provinces for seven days in memory of the Temple. [He also decreed] that on the whole of the day of waving it be forbidden [to eat the new produce].
Notes
[A series of Psalms recited on festivals. On Sukkot, the Hallel service includes waving the four species.—Ed.]
Credits
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
