Etrog ( he, אֶתְרוֹג, plural: ';
Ashkenazi Hebrew
Ashkenazi Hebrew ( he, הגייה אשכנזית, Hagiyya Ashkenazit, yi, אַשכּנזישע הבֿרה, Ashkenazishe Havara) is the pronunciation system for Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew favored for Jewish liturgical use and Torah study by Ash ...
: ', plural: ') is the yellow
citron
The citron (''Citrus medica''), historically cedrate, is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge, rough lemon'. It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed throu ...
or ''Citrus medica'' used by Jews during the week-long holiday of
Sukkot
or ("Booths, Tabernacles")
, observedby = Jews, Samaritans, a few Protestant denominations, Messianic Jews, Semitic Neopagans
, type = Jewish, Samaritan
, begins = 15th day of Tishrei
, ends = 21st day of Tis ...
as one of the
four species. Together with the ''
lulav
''Lulav'' (; he, לולב) is a closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the Four Species used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The other Species are the ''hadass'' (Myrtus, myrtle), '' aravah'' ( willow), and ''etrog'' (citron). ...
'', ''
hadass
Hadass (Hebrew: הדס, pl. ''hadassim'' - הדסים) is a branch of the myrtle tree that forms part of the lulav used on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Hadass is one of the Four species (''arba'ah minim''–ארבעת המינים). ...
'', and ''
aravah'', the ''etrog'' is taken in hand and held or waved during specific portions of the holiday prayers. Special care is often given to selecting an ''etrog'' for the performance of the Sukkot holiday rituals.
Etymology
The
romanization
Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, a ...
of the Hebrew word as ''etrog'' according to the
Sephardic
Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), pt, Judeus sefa ...
pronunciation is widely used. The
Ashkenazi Hebrew
Ashkenazi Hebrew ( he, הגייה אשכנזית, Hagiyya Ashkenazit, yi, אַשכּנזישע הבֿרה, Ashkenazishe Havara) is the pronunciation system for Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew favored for Jewish liturgical use and Torah study by Ash ...
pronunciation is ''esrog'' or ''esrig''. It has been
transliterated
Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one script to another that involves swapping letters (thus ''trans-'' + '' liter-'') in predictable ways, such as Greek → , Cyrillic → , Greek → the digraph , Armenian → or L ...
as ''ethrog'' or ''ethrogh'' in scholarly work. The Hebrew word is thought to derive from the
Persian name for the fruit, ''turunj'' (), likely borrowed via
Aramaic
The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated i ...
.
The Arabic word ''utroj'' or ''etroj'' (or etrog in
Egyptian Arabic
Egyptian Arabic, locally known as Colloquial Egyptian ( ar, العامية المصرية, ), or simply Masri (also Masry) (), is the most widely spoken vernacular Arabic dialect in Egypt. It is part of the Afro-Asiatic language family, and ...
) أُتْرُجِّ means ''
Citrus medica
The citron (''Citrus medica''), historically cedrate, is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge, rough lemon'. It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed throu ...
''.
Taxonomy
In
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew ( he, עברית חדשה, ''ʿivrít ḥadašá ', , '' lit.'' "Modern Hebrew" or "New Hebrew"), also known as Israeli Hebrew or Israeli, and generally referred to by speakers simply as Hebrew ( ), is the standard form of the He ...
, ''etrog'' is the name for any
variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
or form of citron, whether kosher for the ritual or not. In general usage, though, the word is often reserved to refer only to those varieties and specimens used ritually as one of the
four species. Some
taxonomic experts, like
Hodgson
Hodgson is a surname. In United Kingdom, Britain, the Hodgson surname was the 173rd most common (766 per million) in 1881 and the 206th most common (650 per million) in 1998. In the United States, United States of America, Hodgson was the 3753rd mo ...
and others, have mistakenly treated ''etrog'' as one
specific variety of citron. The various
Jewish rites utilize different varieties, according to their tradition or the decision of their respective ''
posek
In Jewish law, a ''Posek'' ( he, פוסק , pl. ''poskim'', ) is a legal scholar who determines the position of ''halakha'', the Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah in cases of Jewish law where previous authorities a ...
''.
Biblical references
While the biblical phrase ''peri eitz hadar'' (פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר) (translated above as "fruit of majestic trees") may be interpreted or translated in a number of ways, the
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...
derives that the phrase refers to the etrog.
In modern Hebrew, ''hadar'' refers to the genus ''
Citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
''.
Nachmanides
Moses ben Nachman ( he, מֹשֶׁה בֶּן־נָחְמָן ''Mōše ben-Nāḥmān'', "Moses son of Nachman"; 1194–1270), commonly known as Nachmanides (; el, Ναχμανίδης ''Nakhmanídēs''), and also referred to by the acronym Ra ...
(1194 – c. 1270) suggests that the word was the original Hebrew name for the citron. According to this view, the word ''etrog'' was introduced over time, adapted from the
Aramaic
The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated i ...
. The
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
name for the citron fruit, ''itranj'' (اترنج), mentioned in
hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approva ...
literature, is also associated with the Hebrew.
Historical cultivation
''Etrogim'' were extensively cultivated in the
Holy Land
The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...
at the time of the
Second Temple
The Second Temple (, , ), later known as Herod's Temple, was the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem between and 70 CE. It replaced Solomon's Temple, which had been built at the same location in the United Kingdom of Israel before being inherited ...
, and images of ''etrogim'' are found at many archaeological sites of that era, including mosaics at the
Maon Synagogue
:''This article deals with the ancient Maon Synagogue from the Negev, not with the ancient Ma'on Synagogue from the Southern Hebron Hills''
The Maon Synagogue is a 6th-century synagogue and archaeological site located in the Negev Desert near Kib ...
,
Beth Alpha
Beth Alpha (; ''Bet Alpha'', ''Bet Alfa'') is a sixth-century CE synagogue located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Gilboa mountains near Beit She'an, Israel.Avigad, "Beth Alpha", ''Encyclopaedia Judaica'', 190. It is now part of Bet Alfa ...
Synagogue, and
Hamat Tiberias Synagogue. At all of those sites, the ''etrog'' is depicted alongside other important religious symbols, like the ''
shofar
A shofar ( ; from he, שׁוֹפָר, ) is an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram's horn, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks pitch-altering devices, with all pitch control done by varying ...
'' or ''
menorah''. The ''etrog'' is also found on numerous
Bar Kokhba coins.
Archaeological evidence for Citrus fruits is limited, as neither seeds nor pollen are likely to be routinely recovered in archaeology. The earliest evidence of ''etrogim'' in Israel is the 2012 discovery of citron pollen from the second century BCE in excavations at the
Ramat Rachel site.
In diaspora
After the
fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, exiled Jews planted citron orchards wherever the climate allowed: in Southern Europe (
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...
, and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
) as well as in North Africa and
Asia Minor
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
. Jews who settled north of the warmer citron-growing areas depended on imported ''etrogim'', which caused much anxiety given the dangers and uncertainties of sea travel. By the seventeenth century, some of the most popular sources for ''etrogim'' were the islands of
Corsica
Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...
and
Corfu
Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
.
Since the late 1850s, the ''Fruit of the Goodly Tree Association'' in
Mandatory Palestine
Mandatory Palestine ( ar, فلسطين الانتدابية '; he, פָּלֶשְׂתִּינָה (א״י) ', where "E.Y." indicates ''’Eretz Yiśrā’ēl'', the Land of Israel) was a geopolitical entity established between 1920 and 1948 ...
represented ''etrog'' farmers who marketed their crops to Jews in Europe. Some Jewish communities still preferred citrons from Italy, Greece, Morocco, or Yemen, but many Jews seeking citrons turned back to ''Eretz Yisrael'', the
land of Israel
The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isr ...
.
American Jews continue to import the majority of their holiday ''etrogim'' from
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, except during
shmita
The sabbath year (shmita; he, שמיטה, literally "release"), also called the sabbatical year or ''shǝvi'it'' (, literally "seventh"), or "Sabbath of The Land", is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah ...
when there are
halachic
''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical comman ...
complications in exporting the produce of Israel. The only commercial grower of etrogs in the United States is John Kirkpatrick, the former chairman of the Citrus Research Board, on a ranch in the town of
Exeter
Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol.
In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...
in the
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley ( ; es, Valle de San Joaquín) is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies south of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the San Joaquin River. It comprises seven ...
of California. Kirkpatrick, who is not Jewish, began growing etrogs in 1980 following a phone call with Yisroel Weisberger, an employee at a Judaica store in Brooklyn. In 1995, Weisberger's brother, Yaakov Shlomo Rothberg, became involved in the operation and has since become Kirkpatrick's business partner. , Kirkpatrick has 250 etrog trees and produces 3,000 suitable etrogs per year, with 9,000 that do not qualify due to halakhic requirements. While there are other growers in California, such as Inga Dorosz and David Sleeth in the town of
Gorda near Big Sur, these are not rabbinically supervised and are therefore not kosher.
Cosmetic requirements
''Pitam''
A ''pitam'' or ''pitom'' (Hebrew: פיטום; plural ''pitamim'') is composed of a style (Hebrew: "דַד" ''dad''), and a
stigma (Hebrew: "שׁוֹשַׁנְתָּא" ''shoshanta''), and usually falls off during the growing process. An ''etrog'' with an intact ''pitam'' is considered especially valuable, but varieties that naturally shed their ''pitam'' during growth are also considered kosher. When only the stigma breaks off, even post-harvest, the citron can still be considered kosher as long as part of the style has remained attached. If the whole ''pitam'', i.e. the stigma and style, are unnaturally broken off in their entirety, the ''etrog'' is not kosher for ritual use.
''Pitam'' preservation technique
Many more ''pitamim'' are preserved today due to an
auxin
Auxins (plural of auxin ) are a class of plant hormones (or plant-growth regulators) with some morphogen-like characteristics. Auxins play a cardinal role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in plant life cycles and are essenti ...
discovered by
Eliezer E. Goldschmidt, emeritus professor of horticulture at the
Hebrew University
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public university, public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein ...
. While working with the
picloram
Picloram is a systemic herbicide used for general woody plant control. It also controls a wide range of broad-leaved weeds, but most grasses are resistant. hormone in a citrus orchard, he unexpectedly discovered that some of the
Valencia orange
The Valencia orange is a sweet orange cultivar named after the famed oranges in València, Spain. It was first hybridized by pioneer American agronomist and land developer William Wolfskill in the mid-19th century on his farm in Santa Ana, s ...
s found nearby had perfectly preserved ''pitamim''. Citrus fruits, other than an ''etrog'' or citron hybrid like the
bergamot, usually do not preserve their ''pitam''. On the occasions that they do, their ''pitamim'' tend to be dry, sunken and very fragile. In Goldschmidt's observation, the ''pitamim'' were all fresh and solid like those of the
Moroccan or Greek citron varieties.
Experimenting with picloram in a laboratory, Goldschmidt eventually found the correct "dose" to achieve the desired effect: one droplet of the chemical in three million drops of water.
Purity
In order for a citron to be kosher, it must be neither
grafted
Grafting or graftage is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion () while the lower part is called the rootstock. The succ ...
nor
hybridized with any other species. Only a few traditional varieties are therefore used. To ensure that no grafting is performed, preferred plantations are kept under strict rabbinical
supervision
Supervision is an act or instance of directing, managing, or oversight.
Etymology
The English noun "supervision" derives from the two Latin words "super" (above) and "videre" (see, observe).
Spelling
The spelling is "Supervision" in Standard E ...
.
Genetic research
The citron varieties traditionally used as ''etrog'' are the
Diamante citron
The Diamante citron (''Citrus medica'' var. ''vulgaris'' or cv. ''diamante'' − it, cedro di diamante, he, אתרוג קלבריה or גינובה) is a variety of citron named after the town of Diamante, located in the province of Cosenza, C ...
from Italy, the
Greek citron
The Greek citron variety of '' Citrus medica'' ( el, κιτριά, he, אתרוג קורפו or יְוָנִי) was botanically classified by Adolf Engler as the ''"variety etrog"''. This is remarking on its major use for the Jewish ritual e ...
, the
Balady citron
The balady citron is a variety of citron, or ''etrog'', grown in Israel and Palestine, mostly for Jewish ritual purposes. Not native to the region, it was imported around 500 or 300 BCE by either Jewish or Greek settlers. Initially not widely gr ...
from Israel, the
Moroccan and
Yemenite citron
The Yemenite citron ( he, אֶתְרוֹג תֵּימָנִי, '' etrog teimani'') is a variety of citron, usually containing no juice vesicles in its fruit's segments. The bearing tree and the mature fruit's size are somewhat larger than the tre ...
s.
A general DNA study was conducted by Eliezer E. Goldschmidt and colleagues which tested and positively identified twelve famous
accessions of citron for purity and being genetically related.
The
fingered and
Florentine citrons, although they are also citron varieties or maybe
hybrids, are not used for the ritual. The
Corsican citron fell into disfavor but has recently been reintroduced for ritual use.
Selection and cultivation
In addition to the above, there are rabbinical indicators used to distinguish pure ''etrogim'' from possible hybrids. These traditional indicators have been preserved by continuous
selection
Selection may refer to:
Science
* Selection (biology), also called natural selection, selection in evolution
** Sex selection, in genetics
** Mate selection, in mating
** Sexual selection in humans, in human sexuality
** Human mating strateg ...
performed by professional farmers.
The most accepted indicators are: 1) a pure ''etrog'' has a thick rind, contrasting with its sparing pulp
segments which are also almost dry, 2) the outer surface of an ''etrog'' is ribbed and warted, and 3) the ''etrog''
peduncle is somewhat buried inward. By contrast, a lemon or different citron hybrid is missing one or all of the specifications.
A later and not as widely accepted indicator is the orientation of the seed. In a pure ''etrog'', the seeds are oriented vertically, unless crowded by neighboring seeds; in lemons and hybrids, the seeds are oriented horizontally even when they are not crowded.
The ''etrog'' is typically grown from cuttings that are two to four years old. The tree begins to bear fruit about four years after planting the cuttings. If the tree is germinated from
seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...
, it will not bear fruit for about seven years, and there may be some
genetic change to the tree or fruit.
Customs
To protect the ''etrog'' during the holiday, it is traditionally wrapped in silky flax fibers and stored in a special decorative box, often made from silver.
After the holiday, eating the ''etrog'' or ''etrog'' jam is considered a ''
segula'' (efficacious remedy) for a woman to have an easy childbirth. A common Ashkenazi custom is to save the ''etrog'' until
Tu BiShvat and eat it in candied form or as
succade
Succade is the candied peel of any of the citrus species, especially from the citron or ''Citrus medica'' which is distinct with its extra-thick peel; in addition, the taste of the inner rind of the citron is less bitter than those of the other ...
, while offering prayers that the worshipper merit a beautiful ''etrog'' next Sukkot. Some families make jam or liqueur out of the ''etrog'' or make a
pomander by inserting
cloves
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring or Aroma compound, fragrance in fi ...
into the skin for use as ''besamim'' at the
havdalah
Havdalah ( he, הַבְדָּלָה, "separation") is a Jewish religious ceremony that marks the symbolic end of Shabbat and ushers in the new week. The ritual involves lighting a special havdalah candle with several wicks, blessing a cup of ...
ceremony after
Shabbat
Shabbat (, , or ; he, שַׁבָּת, Šabbāṯ, , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical stori ...
.
''Etrogim'' grown in Israel are not classified as food and are therefore not recommended to be eaten due to the large amount of pesticides used in their agriculture.
The Dancing Camel Brewery in Tel Aviv, Israel uses the rinds of ''etrogim'' in its annual 'Trog Wit Beer, usually available around the Holiday of Sukkot.
Gallery
File:PikiWiki_Israel_9435_Rabbi_Bergman_examines_a_students_citron.jpg, Rabbi Bergman re-examines an etrog for a student
File:Rabbi dov.jpg, Rabbi Dov Landau inspecting an etrog
File:Etrog_at_the_Market_of_the_4_Species_at_Bnei_Brak.jpg, Balady citron in Bnei Berak
Bnei Brak or Bene Beraq ( he, בְּנֵי בְּרַק ) is a city located on the central Mediterranean coastal plain in Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. A center of Haredi Judaism, Bnei Brak covers an area of 709 hectares (1752 acres, or 2.74 squ ...
market
File:Yellow_Etrog.jpg, Yanova etrog for sale
File:חתך אורך קלבריה.jpg, Cross section of Diamante citron, to check for genetic purity
File:Yanove_Fruit.jpg, Mature fruit of Yanover etrog
File:Braverman_68.jpg, Cross section of Braverman etrog
File:Teimani.JPG, Cross section in Yemenite citron
File:OrdangCross.jpg, Cross section of Greek citron
File:Kibilevitz_cross.JPG, Cross section of Balady citron
File:MoroccanWSeeds.jpg, Cross section of a Moroccan citron
File:Two_citrons.JPG, Yemenite citron (left) and a Balady citron (right)
File:Citron_(8448513463).jpg, Cross section of variety etrog citron, and in fingered citron.
File:Etrog without Pitom.jpg, Diamante citron without ''pitam''
File:Etrog with Pitom.jpg, Diamante citron with ''pitam''
File:Sukot 1.jpg, Inspecting an etrog for flaws
File:Etrog1.jpg, Inspecting a Yemenite citron
File:Etrog_plants_at_kfar_chabad_with_growing_etrogs.JPG, Shmita in Kefar Chabad
Kfar Chabad ( he, כְּפַר חַבָּ"ד, ''lit.'' "Chabad Village") is a Chabad-Lubavitch village in central Israel. Between Beit Dagan and Lod, it falls under the jurisdiction of Sdot Dan Regional Council. In it had a population of .
H ...
, orchard left untended
File:Etrog_plants_at_kfar_chabad.JPG, Young plants in Kefar Chabad
File:Etrog temani 33.JPG, Yemenite citron on tree
File:Etrog01.jpg, Etrog covered with cloves
File:Flickr_-_U.S._Embassy_Tel_Aviv_-_Sukkot2011No.029.jpg, Four species market in Tel Aviv
File:PikiWiki_Israel_15578_etrog.jpg, ''Pitam'' perceptive
File:Etrogflower.jpg, Etrog blossom
File:V05p261002 Etrog.jpg, Etrog tree from ''Jewish Encyclopedia
''The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'' is an English-language encyclopedia containing over 15,000 articles on th ...
''
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - An Etrog.jpg, Man in Mea Shearim
Mea Shearim ( he, מאה שערים, lit., "hundred gates"; contextually, "a hundred fold") is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem outside of the Old City. It is populated by Haredi Jews, and was built by members of the Old Yish ...
inspecting etrog
File:Gartel.JPG, Moroccan etrog with prominent ''gartel''
File:THE HOLIDAY OF SUCCOT IN JERUSALEM.jpg, At Western wall
The Western Wall ( he, הַכּוֹתֶל הַמַּעֲרָבִי, HaKotel HaMa'aravi, the western wall, often shortened to the Kotel or Kosel), known in the West as the Wailing Wall, and in Islam as the Buraq Wall (Arabic: حَائِط ...
File:Laubhüttenfest.jpg, German painting
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Bnei Brak.jpg, Two Hasidim in Bnei Berak
Bnei Brak or Bene Beraq ( he, בְּנֵי בְּרַק ) is a city located on the central Mediterranean coastal plain in Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. A center of Haredi Judaism, Bnei Brak covers an area of 709 hectares (1752 acres, or 2.74 squ ...
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu.jpg, Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
File:PikiWiki Israel 227 ks-13- 392 בדיקת כשרותם של אתרוגי גן-שמואל.jpg, Old photo of grower
File:אתרוג 1.png, An etrog from many angles
File:Etrogschale.jpg, Round silver etrog box
File:Cidra_fruto.JPG, Etrog with half-dried ''pitam''
File:Citrus medica 'Ethrog' - Etrog citron.jpg, Etrog plants in nursery
File:Citrus medica leaves.jpg, Etrog leaves
File:Cidra flor.JPG, Citron (etrog) flowers
File: Etrog_Box_designed_by_Rabbi_Joseph-Meyer_Elefant_in_the_1950s.jpg, Silver etrog box designed by Rabbi Chaim-Joseph-Meyer Elefant (1897-1976) in the early 1950s
See also
*
Citrus taxonomy
Citrus taxonomy refers to the botanical classification of the species, varieties, cultivars, and graft hybrids within the genus ''Citrus'' and related genera, found in cultivation and in the wild.
Citrus taxonomy is complex and controversial. ...
*
Etrog box
*
Meir Auerbach Rabbi Meir Auerbach (1815–1878) was president of the Jewish court at Koło, and author of ''Imrei Bina'' (Words of Wisdom). After his immigration to Ottoman Palestine in 1859, he headed the Poland Kollel and became the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi ...
References
Further reading
Citrus Propagation by Ultimate CitrusFact Sheet HS-86 June 1994 by the University of Florida
External links
*
by the
University of California
The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, University of Califor ...
Riverside
Ancient Treasures and the Dead Sea ScrollsMosaic depicting an ''etrog''*
ttp://www.hebrewworld.com/goldSilver3_files/2.jpg An antique Hebrew coin depicting an ''etrog''* Picture
homecitrusgrowers.co.uk* Evyatar Marienberg and David Carpenter
The Stealing of the "Apple of Eve" from the 13th century Synagogue of Winchester Henri III Fine Rolls Project, Fine of the Month
*
ttp://www.jewfaq.org/etrog.htm Know Your Etrog website with educational pictures, information how to plant your own tree.
The Symbolism of the Lulav and Esrog various sources explaining the symbolism and meaning of the etrog.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q254872
Citron
Four species (Sukkot)
Jewish symbols
Medicinal plants
Sukkot
Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law