Chabad rabbis presented Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon with the Arbaah Minim (Four Species) in honor of the upcoming festival of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). Ayalon thanked the rabbis for the gift.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon receives the Four Species / Israel news photo: Flash 90
"Our traditions are what helped the Jewish People endure our many historical challenges, and we will continue to do so," Ayalon said.
Meanwhile, throughout the Jewish world, Jews selected and obtained their Four Species:
- Lulav – a closed frond from a date palm tree.
- Hadass – boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree.
- Aravah – branches with leaves from the willow tree.
- Etrog – a citron fruit.
The accompanying photos show men selecting their Hadass branches and Etrogs in the hareidi-religious Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Israel news photo: Flash 90
Israel news photo: Flash 90
Sukkot commemorates the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt. As part of the holiday observation, a decorated temporary hut (sukkah) is erected under the open sky outside Jewish households. The Four Species are used during the morning prayers.
'Mini-minim' at Mea Shearim Arbaah Minim market / (Yehuda Boltshause
Inspecting an Etrog in the sunlight outside a Meah Shearim Arbaah Minim market / (Yehuda Boltshause
A boy eyes Etrogs for sale at a stand in Meah Shearim / (Yehuda Boltshause
A special, massive Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) ceremony will be held on Monday at the Kotel.