EATING THE ESROG AFTER COMPLETING THE MITZVAH

Sukkah 45a: Immediately (מיד) (after using the 4 minim on the seventh day) one loosens their lulavim and eat their esrogim.

(a) (R. Yochanan): The Esrog remains prohibited the entire seventh day, and is permitted on the eighth, whereas Sukah remains prohibited even on the eighth day.

(b) (Resh Lakish): Esrog is permitted even on the seventh.

1. Question: What is their Machlokes?
2. Answer: Resh Lakish holds that the Esrog is only designated for its Mitzvah; R. Yochanan holds that the designation applies to the whole day.
3. Question (Resh Lakish to R. Yochanan): But our Mishnah allows eating the Esrog of the children, and, presumably, those of the adults, as well!?
4. Answer: No, only those of the children (see Rashi).
5. Alternate rendition of the above steps: Question (R. Yochanan to Resh Lakish): But our Mishnah only permits the Esrogim of children, presumably those of the adults would be prohibited!?
6. Answer: No, those of the adults are permitted, and those of children are mentioned only as a common illustration.

How were they allowed to eat the esrogim (they had been set aside for the mitzvah the whole seven days)?

1. The children ignored the law (Rambam, Meiri).
2. The esrogim of children were not set aside exclusively for mitzvah use since only being used for chinuch. Thus, the children were able to eat their estrog immediately after using them on the seventh day (Rashi's first interpretation).
3. מיד means from the hands of the children, the adults took the esrogim to eat as an expression of simchah. (Rashi's second interpretation also says not an act of stealing since this was an accepted custom). Tosfos expands the concept that those that act out battles on this day are not responsible for any unintentional damages.
4. Rashi dismisses his first interpretation based on a Medrash (VaYikra Rabbah)

A pious man always gave away all his money to charity. Once on the seventh day of Sukkos his wife gave him money and sent him to the store to buy necessities for Yom Tov. He was approached by a poor person and gave away all the money. Afraid to go home and without money, the pious man snatched away the esrogim of the children until he collected a sackfull. After Yom Tov He found a ship and sailed away to a certain city. The King of that city was deathly ill, and the doctors said that only the esrogim used by the Jews for their holidays could effect a cure. The officers of the King searched but could not find any. Meanwhile when the shipped docked, the customs' officials asked what the pious man had in the sack. When he said esrogim that the Jews used for their holidays, they took him immediately to the King. The King was cured and the pious man was rewarded and returned home a very wealthy person. This version supports the second interpretation that the adults eat the esrogim of the children. However, another version has a single change. The pious man found the esrogim that the children had already taken a bite of them and had put them aside. This version supports the first interpretation.

Halacha:

One may discard of the lulav and esrog set following the holiday of Sukkos; however, out of respect, it should be wrapped before placing it into the garbage. According to Jewish law, one should show respect for an item that was used for a Jewish observance and not put in directly into the trash.

However, the best thing a person can do with an item like this is to use it for another Jewish observance. Here are some ideas for the esrog:

1. Some insert cloves into the citrus (esrog) and let it dry, and use it as a fragrance during havdalah.
2. Others fry the citrus and eat it on the New Year for trees (Tu B'shvat).
3. Some make a jelly from the citrus and eat it on Shabbos.