The Four Species / Arba HaMinim: We've Got the Whole ????? In Our Hands

(40) On the first day, you shall take the fruit of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and brook-willows, and you shall rejoice before the Eternal your God seven days.

Another explanation:

• "The fruit of a beautiful tree" - these are [referring to] Israel. Just like this citron (etrog), which has taste and has smell, so too Israel has among them people that have Torah and have good deeds.
• "The branches of a date palm" - these are [referring to] Israel. Just like this date, which has taste and has no smell, so too Israel has among them those that have Torah but do not have good deeds.
• "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - these are [referring to] Israel. Just like this myrtle, which has smell and has no taste, so too Israel has among them those that have good deeds but do not have Torah.
• "And brook willows" - these are [referring to] Israel. Just like this willow, which has no smell and has no taste, so too Israel has among them people that have no Torah and have no good deeds.

What does the Holy Bountiful One do to them? To destroy them is impossible, but instead the Holy Bountiful One said "bind them all together [into] one group and these will atone for those." If you will have done that, I will be elevated at that time. This is [the meaning of] what is written (Amos 9:6), "The One Who built the upper chambers in the heavens" (indicating his elevation). And when is God elevated? When they make one group, as it is stated (Ibid.), "and established God's group on the earth." Hence Moshe commanded Israel, "And you shall take for yourselves on the first day."

And there is also another matter with these four things - that they are similar to precious limbs in a human (see Vayikra Rabbah 30:14; Midrash Tanchuma, Emor 19):

• As the citron is similar to the heart, which is the dwelling place of the intellect, to hint that one should serve one's creator with his intellect;
• the lulav is similar to the backbone, which is the essence of a person, to hint that one should straighten themself completely for God's service;
• the myrtle [leaves are] similar to the eyes, to hint that one should not stray after their eyes 'on the day of the rejoicing of his heart';
• and the willow [leaves are] similar to the lips, with which a person completes all of their acts of speech, to hint that one should put a muzzle to one's mouth, calibrate one's words and be in awe of God, even at a time of joy.

Another explanation:

• "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] the Holy Bountiful One, as it is written about Him (Psalms 104:1), "You were dressed in splendor and beauty (hadar)."
• "The branches of a date palm" - this is [referring to] the Holy Bountiful One, as it is written about God (Psalms 92:13), "The righteous One flourishes like a date palm."
• "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] the Holy Bountiful One, as it is written (Zechariah 1:8), "and God is standing among the myrtles."
• "And brook willows (arvei nachal)" - this is [referring to] the Holy Bountiful One, as it is written about God (Psalms 68:5), "extol the One who rides the clouds (aravot); the Eternal is God's name."

Another explanation:

• "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] our father, Avraham, who the Holy Bountiful One graced (hider) with a good old age, as it is stated (Genesis 24:1), "And Avraham was old, had come along in days;" and it is written (Leviticus 19:32), "and you shall grace (hadarta) the old."
• "The branches (kappot) of a date palm" - this is [referring to] Yitschak, who was bound (kafut, which is spelled with the same letters as kappot) and tied up on top of the altar.
• "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] Yakov. Just like this myrtle bustles with leaves, so too was Yakov bustling with children.
• "And brook willows" - this is [referring to] Yosef. Just like this willow gets withered before these three [other] species, so too did Yosef die before his brothers.

Another explanation:

• "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] Sarah, who the Holy Bountiful One, graced (hider) with a good old age, as it is stated (Genesis 18:11), "And Avraham and Sarah were old."
• "The branches of a date palm" - this is [referring to] Rivka. Just like this date palm, it has food and it has thorns, so too Rivkah brought up a righteous one and an evildoer.
• "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] Leah. Just like this myrtle bustles with leaves, so too was Leah bustling with children.
• "And brook willows" - this is [referring to] Rachel. Just like this willow gets withered before these three [other] species, so too did Rachel die before her sister.

Another explanation:

• "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] the Great Sanhedrins (high courts) of Israel, who the Holy Bountiful One, graced (hider) with a good old age, as it is stated (Leviticus 19:32), "And you shall get up in front of a venerable one."
• "The branches (kappot) of a date palm" - this is [referring to] the Torah scholars who force (kofin) themselves to learn one from the other.
• "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] the three rows of students who would sit in front of them (since three myrtle branches are customarily waved).
• "And brook willows" - this is [referring to] the two judges' scribes who would stand in front of them and write down the words of those who would render innocent and the words of those who would render guilty (since two willow branches are customarily waved).

Non-essential aspects of a mitzvah prevent calamity, as waving [the omer] is a non-essential aspect of the mitzvah, since even if one failed to wave the loaves, their fulfilled their obligation, and nevertheless it halts harmful winds and dews. And Rava said: And likewise one should conduct himself the same way with a lulav, i.e., one should wave it to and fro and raise and lower it for the same reasons. When Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov would move the lulav to and fro, he would say: This is an arrow in the eye of Satan, as despite his best efforts, the Jewish people continue to joyously fulfill mitzvot. The Gemara notes: That is not a proper manner of conduct, as it will induce Satan to come to incite him to sin. Gloating due to his victory over the evil inclination will lead Satan to redouble his efforts to corrupt him.