Lulav & Etrog Blessings for Sukkot Celebrations

Here is a beginner-friendly guide designed to help someone who is new to the Sukkot tradition confidently perform the blessings over the Lulav and Etrog.

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A Beginner’s Guide for Sukkot

The Lulav and Etrog are collectively called the Arba Minim—the Four Species—and are traditionally used during Sukkot.

The four species are:

🌴 Lulav — a palm branch
🌿 Hadassim — myrtle branches
🌿 Aravot — willow branches
🍋 Etrog — citron

The Torah commands:

“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of a beautiful tree, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Adonai your God seven days.”
— Leviticus 23:40

✡️ The Two Blessings

There are two blessings traditionally associated with the Lulav and Etrog.

1. Blessing for Taking the Lulav

This blessing is said before performing the mitzvah of taking and waving the Four Species.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת לוּלָב.

Transliteration

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al netilat lulav.

English Translation

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav.

🌿 When is it said?

Traditionally, the blessing is recited before shaking the Four Species.

There is an important detail for beginners:

On the first day of Sukkot, the blessing is traditionally recited before the lulav and etrog are actually held together.

Why?

Because the blessing should precede the performance of the mitzvah. The etrog is therefore initially held upside down, with its pitom facing downward. After the blessing, the etrog is turned upright.

On subsequent days, the Four Species may be held in the proper position before the blessing.

🍋 2. Shehecheyanu — The Blessing for Reaching This Season

On the first day of Sukkot, an additional blessing is traditionally recited.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Transliteration

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

English Translation

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

This blessing expresses gratitude to HaShem for allowing us to reach another sacred season.

🌿🍋 How to Perform the Blessing

For someone completely new to the tradition, here is the simple sequence.

Step 1 — Prepare the Four Species

Hold the lulav, hadassim, and aravot together in your right hand.

Traditionally:

Lulav in the center
Myrtle branches on the right
Willow branches on the left

Hold the etrog separately in your left hand.

Step 2 — On the First Day

Hold the etrog upside down, with the pitom facing downward.

Recite:

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al netilat lulav.

Then recite:

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Step 3 — Turn the Etrog Upright

After completing the blessings, turn the etrog so that it is in its normal upright position.

Now the Four Species are ready to be waved.

🌿 The Traditional Waving

The Four Species are traditionally waved in six directions:

➡️ Forward
⬅️ Backward
⬆️ Upward
⬇️ Downward
↗️ Right
↖️ Left

The exact order can vary according to community tradition.

The waving expresses the idea that HaShem is present everywhere and that our praise and gratitude extend in every direction.

Some traditions also incorporate the idea of drawing God's blessing toward ourselves and our community.

🕊️ A Simple Way for Beginners to Remember

Think:

Take → Bless → Turn → Wave → Rejoice

🌿 Take the Four Species.

🙏 Bless HaShem.

🍋 Turn the etrog upright.

🌎 Wave in the traditional directions.

😊 Rejoice before HaShem.

📖 Why Do We Use the Four Species?

Leviticus 23:40 connects the Four Species with rejoicing before Adonai during Sukkot.

Jewish tradition has also found rich symbolic meaning in the four species.

One traditional interpretation compares them to different kinds of people:

🍋 Etrog — has both taste and fragrance
🌴 Lulav/palm — has taste but no fragrance
🌿 Myrtle — has fragrance but no taste
🌿 Willow — has neither

Together, they remind us that the people of Israel belong together, despite differences in gifts, knowledge, or spiritual expression.

The mitzvah is performed with all four—not just the species we personally prefer.

✨ A Messianic Jewish Reflection

For those celebrating Sukkot from a Messianic Jewish perspective, the Lulav and Etrog can become a beautiful physical reminder of God's faithfulness, His presence, and His promises.

Sukkot is a season of rejoicing, remembrance, hospitality, and gratitude.

As we lift the Four Species, we can remember the words of the Psalmist:

“You have turned my mourning into dancing.”
— Psalm 30:11

And we can rejoice that HaShem has sustained us and brought us into another season.

The Shehecheyanu gives us an especially beautiful opportunity to pause and say, in effect:

“Thank You, HaShem, for giving me life, sustaining me, and allowing me to reach this moment.”

🕯️ Quick Reference Card

🌿 Lulav Blessing

Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת לוּלָב.

Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al netilat lulav.

Translation:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav.