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Which four plants are used in the Sukkot prayer ritual?
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Jewish religious year
The months and holidays of the Jewish religious year.
During the Jewish festival of Sukkot, four specific plantsâcollectively known as the Four Speciesâare used in prayer rituals to express gratitude for the harvest and acknowledge the omnipresence of God.1
The four plants are:
- Etrog: A citron fruit, which must be perfect in stem and body for ritual use.1
- Lulav: A palm branch.1
- Hadas: Myrtle branches.1
- Arava: Willow branches.1
In practice, the etrog is held in the left hand, while the lulav, with the myrtle and willow branches bound to it, is held in the right. During the recitation of the Hallel (Psalms), these species are waved in all directions to symbolize God's presence throughout the world.1