What is a Pitom

The pitom is the remnant of the part of the flower that received pollen during fertilization. An etrog that sheds its pitom during the growing process is kosher. But an etrog with a pitom that breaks off during the holiday is considered damaged and no longer kosher for performing the mitzvah of the Four Species.

Is an etrog a lemon?

The Etrog citron looks like a large, knobby and sometimes ribbed lemon. It is a species of citrus fruit and is related to the Buddah’s Hand. One characteristic of this variety of citrus is a very thick rind and aromatic skin. It has very small sections and many, many seeds.

What fruit is known as etrog?

Etrog (Hebrew: אֶתְרוֹג‎, plural: etrogim; Ashkenazi Hebrew: esrog, plural: esrogim) is the yellow citron or Citrus medica used by Jews during the week-long holiday of Sukkot as one of the four species.

Are you allowed to eat etrog?

Etrog skin, when rubbed, is intoxicatingly fragrant, somewhat like a lemon. And although hardly a meal, the thick white pith inside is edible and mildly sweet.

What is the purpose of the etrog?

etrog, (Hebrew: “citron”) also spelled ethrog or esrog, plural etrogim, ethrogim, esrogim, etrogs, ethrogs, or esrogs, one of four species of plants used during the Jewish celebration of Sukkot (Feast of Booths), a festival of gratitude to God for the bounty of the earth that is celebrated in autumn at the end of the …

Where does the etrog come from?

Originally from India, etrog is one of the oldest cultivated citrus plants. Archaeologists have uncovered seeds in Mesopotamia dating back to 8000 BC.

Where did the etrog come from?

The most commonly used Etrog comes from Calabria, Italy. It is one of the three major exporters of etrogs, along with Israel and Morocco. In order to remain kosher for the holiday, they cannot be grafted onto other hardier citrus trees.

What can I do with an old etrog?

Turn your etrog into plant food by composting it. There are all different ways to compost fruit and vegetable scraps. One of the easiest is just by burying your old fruit in the ground. What’s Jewish about composting?

Where do Etrogs grow?

Etrog, also known as yellow citron, is primarily grown in the Mediterranean, Israel, and a few Central and South American countries. The tree is small and shrub-like, and grows fruits that resemble large, oblong lemons with a bumpy rind. Inside, you’ll find pulp that is a pale yellow with lots of seeds.

What can you do with etrog citron?

Etrog citrons are used for their fragrant rind and pith in cooked applications. The ends of the fruits should be sliced and removed, and the seeds and flesh are also discarded, leaving only the pith and rind.

Article first time published on

What does an etrog tree look like?

The tree itself is small and shrub-like with new growth and blossoms tinged with purple. The fruit looks like a large, oblong lemon with a thick, bumpy rind. The pulp is pale yellow with lots of seeds and, as mentioned, a very acidic taste. The aroma of the fruit is intense with a hint of violets.

How do you say etrog?

or eth·rog, es·rog. noun, plural et·rogs, et·ro·gim [Sephardic Hebrew et-raw-geem; Ashkenazic Hebrew es-roh-gim].

What is the top of the etrog?

The etrog’s condition is a very serious matter Second, the knobby bit at the top of the fruit, called pitam, must either be complete or should have naturally shed during the growing process.

What are the 4 species of Sukkot?

These species are lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow) and etrog (citron) and they are used to bless the Sukkah or booth in which Sukkot is celebrated. These four plants are mentioned in the third book of the Torah, Leviticus.

How much does a citron cost?

Most etrogim sell for $10 to $15 retail; wealthy buyers might pay $1,000 for an especially fine specimen.

What do you eat on Sukkot?

Sukkot meal inspiration can come from the harvest origin of the holiday, and meals can include fresh fruits and vegetables, or other harvest-related ingredients. Of course, challah, chicken soup, and kugels are traditional Jewish foods that can be served on Sukkot (or any time of the year).

How do you make etrog oil?

Add a light carrier oil (organic sunflower oil, jojoba oil, or fractionated coconut oil) and fill until all the peel is immersed and there is about one inch of oil above the peel and the herbs. Set the bottle in a cupboard for 40 days – or preferably for a season – shaking it daily.

How do you dry an etrog?

1. Slice your Etrog in as even slices as you can. …
2. Spread it out on a baking sheet covered with parchment.
3. Place it in the oven on the lowest setting (mine is 170 F). …
4. When your slices are totally dry (before they burn) take them out of the oven.

How do you dry out etrog?

Dry your etrog Once the etrog is covered in cloves, leave it in a warm, well ventilated place for a few days to dry out. As the rind dehydrates and shrinks, you may find it necessary to push the cloves further into the fruit.

What is the lulav and etrog?

The lulav is a cluster of plants: a palm branch, two boughs of willow, and three boughs of myrtle. The etrog is a citron fruit — basically an overgrown lemon. Together the lulav and etrog are called arba minim (ahr-BAH mee-NEEM), which is Hebrew for “the four species.”

How long does it take to grow an etrog tree?

Etrog trees should bear fruit within 4-7 years(in theory, my tree took 7). If you want to use your Etrogim for Succot then you must be sure that there are no defects in your fruit(that did not come from the tree itself). You should have your Etrog checked by a competent rabbinical authority on these matters.

What makes an etrog kosher?

A kosher etrog is a model of purity, according to tradition it cannot be grafted or bred with any other species and no two are ever alike.

How do you say lulav?

noun, plural lu·la·vim [Sephardic Hebrew loo-lah-veem; Ashkenazic Hebrew loo-law-vim], /Sephardic Hebrew lu lɑˈvim; Ashkenazic Hebrew luˈlɔ vɪm/, lu·lavs.

What makes an etrog pasul?

An esrog is pasul if it is round like a ball. … If the spot is black, not brown or white as made by a leaf touching the esrog during its growth. If the spot is noticeable when the esrog is held at a distance of 12 inches. Only if the spot can be seen without searching for it.

What body part does the etrog represent?

The etrog is the heart. The lulav and etrog, also known as the Four Species as mentioned in the Biblical quote at the top of the page, are waved in a ritual ceremony that shows devotion to God with all of one’s body and soul.

What Sukkot means?

Every year on the 15th of the Jewish month of Tishrei (this year on the 13th October), Jews celebrate Sukkot, also known as Feast of Tabernacles. … Sukkot commemorates the 40 years the Jewish spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land after escaping slavery in Egypt.

What is the mitzvah of Sukkot?

Throughout the week of Sukkot, meals are eaten in the sukkah. If a brit milah (circumcision ceremony) or Bar Mitzvah rises during Sukkot, the seudat mitzvah (obligatory festive meal) is served in the sukkah. Similarly, the father of a newborn boy greets guests to his Friday-night Shalom Zachar in the sukkah.