People check the “Arba Minim” (the 4 species)

People check the “Arba Minim” (the 4 species) on which Jews around the world make a blessing over the Sukkot holiday. They must not be damaged in any way and the more beautiful and more perfectly shaped the items, the more expensive they are because using the nicest species is considered a way of enhancing the performance of the commandment. The long Lulav branch (a ripe, green, closed frond from a date palm) has taste, but no smell. The Etrog (citron) fruit has both taste and smell, The Hadas (boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree) have a smell and no taste and the Aravah (branches with leaves from the willow tree) has neither taste nor smell. Photo by Gideon Markowicz/TPS.