Four of a Kind

The Midrash teaches that each of the Four Species on Sukkos represents one kind of Jew: The Esrog, with both good taste and fragrance, represents the Jew who excels in both Torah and Mitzvos. The Lulav, the palm branch, whose fruit has good taste but no smell, represents the Jew who excels only in Torah study. The Hadas, myrtle, has fragrance, but no taste. It represents the Jew who excels only at Mitzvos. And the Aravah, the willow, without taste or smell, represents the Jew who excels neither at Torah nor at Mitzvos. The Midrash concludes: “On Sukkos, all four Jews must join together, for each one completes the others.”

The Esrog, seemingly the greatest of them all, holds the secret to this unity, for the word “Esrog” forms an acronym of the verse: “Let not the foot of arrogance overtake me.”

Arrogance certainly does not belong in one’s head. The point here is that arrogance doesn’t even belong in one’s feet. So when the “Esrog” – the one who excels in both Torah and Mitvos, lives up to his name, he guarantees no trace of arrogance even down to his foot. It is this humility that makes him – the Esrog – “beautiful,” with a beauty that extends to the other three Species as well, and makes them one.