The Four Species

The Four Species are four types of plants that grow in Israel, for which a blessing must be said on each day of Sukkot (besides Sabbath). The plants are:

• Etrog
  (a citron)- "The fruit of a goodly tree". It should be clean and preferably have a rippled texture. Its crown must be intact, and it is better to buy a green one than a yellow one, because that way it lasts longer. The Etrog has a strong smell and a strong flavour.
• Lulav
  a palm branch. It should be long and straight, and its leaves should be whole. The Lulav has a flavour, but has no smell.
• Hadas
  three branches of myrtle must be attached to the left side of the Lulav. Preferably the Hadas should have "triangles": 3 leaves growing from the same point of the branch. The myrtle, unlike the Lulav, has no flavour, but has a strong smell.
• Aravah
  "The willow of the brook". Two willow branches must be attached to the right hand side of the palm branch. They should each be longer than the branches of the myrtle. The Aravah has neither flavour nor smell.

The Four Species are a symbol for the Israelites. The smell is a symbol for doing good deeds, and the flavour is a symbol for keeping the commands of the Torah. There are all kinds of people, but just like the four species, all kinds of Israelites should stick together despite their differences.