On Sukkot, there is a special commandment to take four types of plants together. Each of these types has a special characteristic in terms of its flavor and aroma. From each one, we can learn something in our service to God. Flavor represents study. The Hebrew word for flavor is ta'am, which can also be translated as "reason" or "logic," the foundation of study. Aroma represents action. Just as action "envelops" a person, in the sense that it involves the person's engagement in what they do, so too does aroma "envelop" and "surround" a person.<\/p>\n
Just as each of the four species differs from the others, there are different types of people in the Jewish people.<\/p>\n
The Etrog (citron), which has both taste and aroma, represents the individual who possesses both Torah study and good deeds.<\/p>\n
The Lulav (palm leaf) has taste but no aroma; it represents the individual who has studied Torah, but does not do good deeds.<\/p>\n
The myrtle tree has a fragrance but no taste; it represents one who does good deeds but does not study Torah.<\/p>\n
The Aravah (weeping willow leaf) has neither taste nor aroma; it represents the individual who does not study Torah or do good deeds.<\/p>\n
The Midrash tells us that God says: "Come together all together in one bundle and answer for one another.".<\/p>\n
The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that the Midrash isn't simply saying that "all are part of the Jewish people" or "all are esteemed in God's eyes" or even that "all are necessary"; rather, it says "they answer for one another." This implies that each of the Four Species possesses something that the other three lack, and thus "answers" and compensates for the absence of that quality in the other three.<\/p>\n
From a superficial perspective, we might see the Four Species as four different types of individuals within the Jewish people. However, from a deeper perspective, we can find the Four Species within the same person.<\/p>\n
The Etrog says, "I am perfect. I balance learning with doing good deeds. In my life, knowledge and action do not overlap or compete, but rather complement each other." This is something we all need to say to ourselves from time to time. We all need to know that we possess the potential for that perfect harmony, and that each of us has those moments in our lives when we achieve it.<\/p>\n
The Lulav says: "I dedicate myself absolutely to the pursuit of wisdom, awareness, and self-knowledge. Action is also important, but my priority is to know God and (thus) my true essence, even if this means withdrawing and not engaging with the world." This is something we all need to say to ourselves from time to time. We all need to know that we possess the potential for such knowledge within us, and that each of us has those moments in our lives when we achieve it.<\/p>\n
The Hades says, "What the world needs is action. Knowledge of God and self-knowledge are worthy goals, but I have a job to do. I need to build a better world; knowledge will have to wait." This is something we all need to say to ourselves from time to time. We all need to know that our mission in life is to "make this physical world a dwelling place for God," and that there are times when action takes precedence over everything else.<\/p>\n
The Arava says, "I have nothing. I am nothing." This is something we all need to say, at least from time to time.<\/p>\n
From a superficial perspective, where each species represents a different type of person, Sukkot is a time of unity for the Jewish people, where everyone has their place, regardless of their individual qualities. From a deeper understanding of the meaning of the Four Species, Sukkot is a time when we come together so that each other's qualities "leave a mark" on us.<\/p>\n
Extracted and adapted from www.jabad.org.ar<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"En Sucot hay un precepto especial de tomar cuatro especies vegetales juntas. Cada una de estas especies tiene una caracter\u00edstica especial en cuanto a su sabor y aroma. De cada una podemos aprender algo en nuestro servicio a Di-s.El sabor representa al estudio. La palabra hebrea para sabor es taam\", que puede traducirse tambi\u00e9n como… Read More \u00bbThe four species of Sukkot<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[954,993,1067,942],"series":[],"class_list":["post-1191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sucot","tag-judio","tag-precepto","tag-suca","tag-tora"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/lulav.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/avatar1400.jpeg","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"castbox":{"key":"castbox","url":"","label":"CastBox","class":"castbox","icon":"castbox.png"},"rss":{"key":"rss","url":"","label":"RSS","class":"rss","icon":"rss.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/tuviaserber.com\/en\/feed\/podcast\/rabino-tuvia-serber","embedCode":"Las cuatro especies de Sucot<\/a><\/blockquote>