Sukkos - The Arba Minim (the 4 species) & Service of Gratitude

You shall take for yourselves, on the first day,

1. the fruit of the beautiful tree (esrog)
2. a branch of palm trees (lulav),
3. a branch of a plaited tree [(a tree the branches of which are plaited like ropes — a myrtle)] (hadasim),
4. and willows of the brook (aravos),

and you shall rejoice before Hashem, your God, for seven days.

A lulav that has three handbreadths in length, sufficient to enable one to wave with it, is fit for use in fulfilling the mitzva.

And where in the recitation of hallel would they wave the lulav?

They would do so at the verse: “Thank Hashem, for He is good” (Psalms 118:1, 29) that appears at both the beginning and the end of the psalm,

and at the verse: “Lord, please save us” (Psalms 118:25);

this is the statement of Beit Hillel.

“A Dried up lulav is disqualified.”

Rebbi Abbin in the name of Rebbi Yehudah bar Pazi: The dried-up is disqualified because "the dead cannot praise Hashem"

Rabbi Mani began, "'All of my bones shall say, "Hashem, who is like you"' (Psalms 35:10).

This verse was stated in reference to lulav (the four species).

The spine of the palm branch is similar to the spine of man.

The myrtle is similar to the eye.

The willow is similar to the mouth.

The etrog, is similar to the heart.

King David said, 'In all of the limbs, there are no greater ones than these, as they are as significant to the entire body.'

This is [what is meant] by the pasuk: All of my bones shall say: "Hashem, who is like you" (Psalms 35:10)."

Rabbi Yocḥanan said:

He moves them (the 4 species) back and forth to dedicate them to He Whom the four directions are His.

He raises and lowers them to He Whom the heavens and earth are His.

If a person has been singled out by the Creator for special beneficence, he is under an obligation to increased service for it.

When a man comes to realize as truth the great value of the Mitzvot and the greatness of his obligation in them, his heart will certainly be awakened to the service of G-d and he will not be lax in it.

However, that which may intensify this rousing is looking into the many benefits that the Holy One blessed be He does with a man at all moments and times and the great wonders G-d performs for him from the time of his birth until his final day.

For the more one looks into and contemplates these things, the more he will recognize his enormous debt to G-d Who bestows good to him. This study will cause him to not grow lazy or lax in His service. For since it is impossible for him to repay G-d for His goodness, he will feel that at least he can thank His Name and fulfill His commandments.

Whatever circumstances one may be in, whether poor or rich, healthy or ill, there is no person who cannot see wonders and many great benefits in his particular situation.

There is not a single person who will not find himself indebted to his Creator. When he looks at these benefits which he receives from G-d, certainly, he will be roused to be Zealous in His service as I wrote earlier.

All the more so, if he contemplates that all of his good is dependent on G-d's hand and that all of his needs and necessities is only from G-d alone, blessed be His Name, and no one else. Then certainly he will not become lazy from engaging in His Divine service..

There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. Shammai pushed him away...

The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: "That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its commentary. Go study.