The Jewish fall harvest festival of Sukkot has a lot to offer families. Building a sukkah, decorating, eating outdoors — there’s plenty to love about the holiday. There is, however, one Sukkot tradition that might leave some families scratching their heads and asking, “What is up with that rain dance-looking ritual?”
How Do We Shake the Lulav and Etrog?
One Sukkot tradition involves the etrog, or citron, a fruit similar to a lemon, and and the lulav, a bouquet made up of palm, myrtle, and willow branches. It’s customary to shake a lulav and etrog in the sukkah on each morning of Sukkot. But shaking any time of day is fine, especially if you're all gathered together for a festive meal. Here is a quick rundown of how to assemble and shake the lulav, and say the blessing:
Hold the lulav in your right hand and the etrog in your left hand with the tip of the etrog pointing toward the ground. Bring the lulav and etrog together so they’re touching and say this blessing:
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat lulav.
Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for this opportunity to shake the lulav.
Flip the etrog so its tip is pointing upward, and now you’re ready to shake. Hold the lulav and etrog out in front of you and shake it. Then out to your right, and shake. Then behind over your shoulder, and shake. Then out to your left, and shake. Then way up toward the sky, and shake. And finally, down toward the ground, and shake. Congratulations! You just shook your lulav.
Watch & Learn
Check out the videos below to learn more: