Bentching Lulav
All men and boys over the age of Bar Mitzvah must bentch Lulav. Boys under Bar Mitzvah must also do so if they are of the age of Chinuch. Women and girls are technically exempt, but some have the custom to bentch Lulav anyway.
Men in good health should not eat anything before bentching Lulav. [One should not be stringent if there are any health concerns, or if he will obtain the Daled Minim only after midday.] Similarly, one should not learn or perform work before bentching Lulav.
Before bentching Lulav, one first fulfils the Mitzvah of Kriat Shma, since it is more frequent.
Some have the custom to bentch Lulav in the Succah before davening. It is preferable to eat Mezonot right after bentching Lulav in the Succah, in order to recite the Brachah of Leshev BaSukkah on the Mitzvah of Daled Minim as well. Others have the custom to bentch Lulav just before reciting Hallel during Shacharit.
It is best to bentch Lulav as soon as possible after sunrise (6:37 – 6:41am). Nevertheless, one may bentch Lulav any time after sunrise until sunset (6:20 – 6:13pm). In extenuating circumstances, or after the fact, it is acceptable if performed after dawn (5:24 – 5:28am) with a Brachah, or before three stars emerge (6:52 – 6:45pm) without a Brachah.
When benching Lulav, one stands facing Mizrach and holds the Lulav in the right hand, with the Lulav spine facing the person. After reciting the Brachah of Al Netilat Lulav, one picks the Etrog up with the left hand. A left-handed person holds the Lulav in his left hand, and the Etrog in his right hand. Some hold the Etrog upside down when reciting the Brachah, Al Netilat Lulav.
On the first day of Sukkot, the Etrog is picked up before Shehecheyanu is recited. However, it is not joined to the Lulav until the conclusion of the Brachah.
One ensures that there is no Chatzitzah (barrier) between his hands and the Daled Minim. Therefore, one should remove any rings.
Na’anuim (shaking the Lulav):
According to some, the Daled Minim are extended in all directions, three times per direction. One does not himself change direction, but merely moves the Daled Minim in each direction.
There are various customs regarding the Na’anuim.
The order of the Na’anuim according to Chabad:
- South (i.e. south-east).
- North (i.e. north-east).
- East (i.e. centre east).
- Up. [The Daled Minim are returned in a downward motion to around the height of the chest before being brought back to the chest.]
- Down. [The Daled Minim are returned in an upward motion to around the height of the chest before being brought back to the chest.]
- West (i.e. twice south-west and the third time centre-west).
The Daled Minim are extended forth from the chest and returned back to the chest, physically touching the place where one beats his fist when reciting Ashamnu. Each time the Lulav is extended forth, it is given a slight shake before being returned to the chest.
During the Na’anuim, the Daled Minim themselves remain perfectly upright and should not be inclined in any direction. One ensures that the tip of the Lulav does not come into contact with the wall, ceiling or Schach.
Women are not meticulous about waving the Lulav in all six directions.
Throughout Sukkot one should not smell the Hadassim or the Etrog.
Ownership of Daled Minim
On the first day of Sukkot, one must own the set of Daled Minim he uses to perform the Mitzvah. [However, one may use a borrowed set for Hallel and Hosha’anot.]
When giving the Daled Minim to someone over the age of Bar Mitzvah, one should expressly state that it is a Matanah Al M’nat Lehachzir; i.e. a gift conditional on its return. This is especially important on the first day of Sukkot. [If one neglected to say this, it is still the presumed intention – provided that the giver and recipient are both aware that one must own the set of Daled Minim.]
It is not the custom of Sefardi women to perform the mitzvah of Daled Minim.
As mentioned earlier, a boy of the age of Chinuch is required to bentch Lulav. According to many Rishonim, the Mitzvah of Chinuch requires him to own the set he uses. At the same time, a boy under Bar Mitzvah has the ability to acquire, but not to give back. Therefore, one should not give the Daled Minim to a child as a Matanah Al M’nat Lehachzir. Rather, the father should purchase a set of Daled Minim for him.
If this is impractical or beyond one’s means, one may rely on the Rishonim who do not require a boy under Bar Mitzvah to own the set he uses.
[Technically, another solution is to give the Daled Minim to the boy only after the adults have bentched Lulav. However, this is not a practical solution if one has several boys.]
