Tomorrow morning, we will take our lulav and etrog in our hands and wave the four species in six directions representing the presence of God in all directions. Yet, we must ask ourselves, do we take our Judaism in those six directions, too?
The midrash teaches us that each of the species represents a body part. The willow is similar to our mouth, the myrtle to our our eye, the etrog to our heart, and the lulav branch itself our spine.
The commandment in the torah is u’lkachtem lachem, take it unto yourself, meaning we must not share or borrow the lulav. We must take the species in our own hands with our own volition.
We must not separate our words from our deeds. After we perform this fun ritual, do we really “take” the meaning for ourselves?
Do we use our mouth to speak Jewishly, with words of Jewish wisdom on our tongue when we are in our homes, our workplaces, and in the public square?
Do we see the world through a Jewish perspective or do we leave Judaism as a place that only belongs in sacred space?
Do we have a Jewish heart, that lives with the values of our tradition, or do we get drowned out by competing values?
Finally, do we walk around as a lulav, straight and proud that our Judaism guides both our heart and our mind?
This year, do not only take the four species in your hands. This year, take the meaning of the lulav with you wherever and whenever you go.
Chag Sameach
