A. The Lulav, Hadassim, and Aravot are held together in the right hand in the following manner:  |
1. The Lulav occupies the central position in the grouping. |
2. Place the bottom part of the Lulav in the central part of the "holder-like contraption", which is made from Lulav branches and should come with your Lulav, which has one extension to each side of the Lulav. |
3. Make sure the backbone (Solid spine) of the Lulav is facing towards you. |
4. With the holder in place near the bottom of the Lulav, place two aravot in the left extension. |
5. Place three hadassim in the right extension. |
6.The tops of the hadassim should be higher up than those of the aravot. |
| B. The Etrog is held in the right hand. |
| C. The Etrog and the Lulav (The Lulav, Aravot, and Hadassim bound together) should be touching each other. |
| How to Shake the Four Species It is a mitzvah to wave the Lulav on each of the first seven days of Sukkot. The proper time is in the morning – Either before the Morning Service or during the service, immediately before the Hallel, but you can still fulfill the Mitzvah any time during the daylight hours. |
| A. Pick up the Etrog in your left hand (Some have the custom to pick up the Etrog first and then the Lulav- reversing the order when putting them down, because the Etrog is referred to before the others in the biblical verse). |
| B. Hold the Etrog with its Pitaam (stem) pointed downward. |
| C. Pick up the Lulav bundle in your right hand. |
| D. Hold the two hands together so that the four species touch each other. |
| E. Recite the Blessing for shaking the Lulav: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the waving of the Lulav." (On the first day add: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustenance, and permitted us to reach this season.") |
| F. After the blessing, turn the Etrog over, so that the Pitaam faces up. |
| G. At this point you wave/shake the Lulav and the Etrog in the following manner: |
| 1. Stand facing East |
| 2. Hold the Lulav out to the East (to the front) and shake it three times. Each time the motion of Shaking should be drawing in to you: i. Reach out and draw in. ii. Reach out and draw in. iii. Reach out and draw in. |
| 3. Repeat the same motion three times to your right (south). |
| 4. Repeat the same motion three times behind over your shoulder (west). |
| 5. Repeat the same motion three times to your left (north). |
| 6. Repeat the same motion three times raising the Lulav up. |
| 7. Repeat the same motion three times lowering it down. |
| Now you have completed this important and unique Mitzvah! Yasher Koach (May you go from strentgh to strentgh)! Don't forget to do it all the first seven days of Sukkot. |