One should only buy the Daled Minim from a reliable vendor who ensures that they are not grafted, and that there is no concern of Gezel, Shemitah, Tevel and Orlah. One should not buy the Daled Minim from a child under Bar Mitzvah, as he does not have the Halachic ability to allow others to acquire from him.
We are not particular about paying for the Daled Minim before Sukkos. [Of course, this is acceptable only with the vendor’s agreement.]
One should endeavour to purchase a Daled Minim set which is Mehudar (beautiful). It is not appropriate to boast about the beauty of one’s set.
It is Chabad custom to use an Esrog of the Calabria (“Yanove”) variety that actually grew in Calabria. The next best option is to obtain an Esrog of that progeny even if it grew elsewhere.
The Esrog is preferably yellow like beeswax and not green.
An Esrog is acceptable if the Pittam fell off due to natural causes whilst still on the tree. [An indentation in the place of the Pittam generally indicates that it fell off whilst the Esrog was still growing.]
If the Pittam fell off after the Esrog was detached from the tree, it is acceptable only if the base of the Pittam is still intact and protrudes above the tip of the Esrog.
Greater emphasis is placed on the actual beauty of the Esrog than on whether it is missing a Pittam (in a Halachically acceptable manner).
Blettlach (leaf-marks) and light red/brown discolouration do not disqualify an Esrog. White, black or deep red/brown discolouration that can be seen at first glance when the Esrog is held at arm’s length: If located on the upper side of the Esrog, from the area where the Esrog begins to slope inwards, it is Possul. If located on the underside of the Esrog in the area of the stem, it is Kosher. If located anywhere else, it is Kosher – unless the discolouration spans the majority, or there are two such spots (or more).
One must purchase a Lulav whose central leaf is completely closed. Nevertheless, the Lulav may still be used if a minority of the central leaf split. On Chol Hamoied, it may be used even if the central leaf completely split, as long as the actual spine is intact.
If the top of the central leaf is covered with “Moch”, it is considered closed.
The Lulav is acceptable if its tip is sunburnt, but not if it is snipped.
Preferably, the Lulav is:
- Not rounded at the top (“Knepplach”).
- Has “Moch” (bark).
- Is tall and straight.
- Has a straight and well-centred spine.
- Is not thin.
It is best to select Hadassim and Aravos whose leaves are all intact and fresh.
Chabad custom is to add at least three extra Haddasim to the basic minimum of three.
There are many other Halachos relevant to the Kashrus of the Daled Minim. If in doubt, approval should be sought from someone well-versed in the relevant Halachos.
It is best that a separate Daled Minim set be purchased for a boy under Bar Mitzvah if he is old enough to perform the Na’anuim. (For more details, see the section “Ownership of Daled Minim”.)
It is not Chabad custom to store the Daled Minim in elaborate containers.
One may not use Maaser funds for his own (or dependent’s) Daled Minim, but may use it to arrange sets for others, or Mivtzoim.
