Etrog (ritual)

Etrog (, plural: ; Ashkenazi Hebrew: , plural: ) is the yellow citron (''Citrus medica'') used by Jews during the weeklong holiday of Sukkot as one of the four species. Together with the ''lulav'', ''hadass'', 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 of the Hebrew as ''etrog'' from Sephardi Hebrew is widely used. The Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation is ''esrog'' or ''esrig''. It has been transliterated as ''etrog'' or ''ethrog'' in scholarly works. The Hebrew word is thought to derive from the Persian name for the fruit, ''wādrang'', which first appears in the Vendidad. Related words are () and . It has also made its way into Arabic as notably in a hadith collected in the ''Sahih Muslim''. A rare Aramaic form, ''eṯrungā'' (), is significant because it retains the alveolar nasal sound (as indicated by the ''nun'') of ''wādrang'', also observable in the English word 'orange'.

Taxonomy

In Modern Hebrew, is the name for any variety 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 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''.

Biblical references

While the biblical phrase ''peri eitz hadar'' () (translated above as "fruit of majestic trees") may be interpreted or translated in a number of ways, the Talmud derives that the phrase refers to the etrog.

In modern Hebrew, refers to the genus ''Citrus''. Nachmanides (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 and adapted from Aramaic. The Arabic name for the citron fruit, ''itranj'' (اترنج), mentioned in hadith literature, is also adapted from Aramaic.

Historical cultivation

''Etrogim'' were extensively cultivated in the Holy Land at the time of the Second Temple, and images of ''etrogim'' are found at many archaeological sites of that era, including mosaics at the Maon Synagogue, Beth Alpha Synagogue, and Hamat Tiberias Synagogue. At all of those sites, the ''etrog'' is depicted alongside other important religious symbols, like the ''shofar'' 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, Greece, and Italy) as well as in North Africa and Asia Minor. 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 and Corfu.

Since the late 1850s, the ''Fruit of the Goodly Tree Association'' in Mandatory Palestine 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.

American Jews continue to import the majority of their holiday ''etrogim'' from Israel, except during shmita when there are halachic 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 in the San Joaquin Valley 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: ; plural ) is composed of a style (Hebrew: ; ), and a stigma (Hebrew: ; ), 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 discovered by Eliezer E. Goldschmidt, emeritus professor of horticulture at the Hebrew University. While working with the picloram hormone in a citrus orchard, he unexpectedly discovered that some of the Valencia oranges 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 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.

Genetic research

The citron varieties traditionally used as ''etrog'' are the Diamante citron from Italy, the Greek citron, the Balady citron from Israel, the Moroccan and Yemenite citrons.

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 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, 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, 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 into the skin for use as '' besamim'' at the havdalah ceremony after Shabbat.

''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.

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 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, 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'' close-up
File:Etrogflower.jpg, Etrog blossom
File:V05p261002 Etrog.jpg, Etrog tree from ''Jewish Encyclopedia''
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - An Etrog.jpg, Man in Mea Shearim inspecting etrog
File:Gartel.JPG, Moroccan etrog with prominent ''gartel''
File:THE HOLIDAY OF SUCCOT IN JERUSALEM.jpg, At the Western Wall
File:Laubhüttenfest.jpg, German painting
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Bnei Brak.jpg, Two Hasidim in Bnei Berak
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
* Etrog box
* Meir Auerbach

References

*

Further reading

Citrus Propagation by Ultimate Citrus

Fact Sheet HS-86 June 1994 by the University of Florida

External links

*


by the University of California Riverside

Ancient Treasures and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Mosaic depicting an ''etrog''


* ttps://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





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.

Video

* Short Deutsche Welle video on growing etrog in Calabri

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Citron
Four species (Sukkot)
Jewish symbols
Medicinal plants
Sukkot
Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law