Why the Arba Minim? (Part 1)
Lesson objectives
In this lesson, students will:
- Explain verses Vayikra 23:39-43 in their own words, including why Sukkot is celebrated at that time of year and why we build sukkot.
- Identify the arba minim in Biblical Hebrew terms, modern Hebrew, and English.
- Describe the historical significance/symbolism of each of the arba minim (four species).
- Describe the physical look/distinguishing characteristics of the arba minim.
- Describe the growth characteristics of each of the arba minim.
Skills
Students should be able to:
- Study a Biblical text in hevrutah and understand its vocabulary.
- Identify the arba minim by looking at pictures.
- Understand one main form of symbolism connected to the Four Species.
Terms
| English Translation | Hebrew | Pasuk |
| When you gather | בְּאַסָּפְכֶם | פס’ לט |
| The crops of the land | אֶת תְּבוּאַת הָאָרֶץ | פס’ לט |
| This law will last forever (to keep Sukkot) | חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדוֹרוֹתֵיכֶם | פס’ מא |
| Citizen or member of the Jewish community | אֶזְרָח | פס’ מב |
| Festivals (of) | מֹעַדֵי | פס’ מד |
For any other text translations needed, see here.
Resources & Equipment needed
- Printed source sheets or Sefaria link
- A set of arba minim for demonstration
- Printed copies of the Four Species chart for each student, or the Four Species Padlet
- Worksheet answers for teachers
Procedure
I. Teacher preparation (before class):
- Print source sheets in advance or set up student devices and share relevant links.
- Bring a set of arba minim to demonstrate to the class.
The lesson should then follow the steps below. Use the sample teacher-student conversations for guidance.
II. Class Opening
Show the arba minim to the class.
Teacher: What are these?
Student: Lulav, etrog, haddasim, aravot.
Teacher: (Expand on the names and explanations of each of the arba minim as needed). When do we use the arba minim?
Student: On Sukkot.
Teacher: Why do we celebrate Sukkot by sitting in a sukkah and using the arba minim?
Accept 3 answers without acknowledging anyone as the ‘right’ one.
Teacher: Which reason does the Torah provide? Let’s look at Vayikra 23:39.
Distribute source sheets or share the Sefaria link.
III. Textual Pair Reading – Vayikra 23:39-44
Teacher: I am looking for answers to the following questions.
Why do we have to bring the arba minim? Why is God commanding us to live in little huts outside our house?
These questions should be written on the classroom whiteboard or displayed on a smartboard, etc. to help students keep them in mind as they continue the lesson. Split into hevrutot, or pairs. In an online class, place pairs of students into separate breakout rooms to study the text together (make sure that they have the link to the text in advance).
Teacher: Read the verses carefully with your hevruta partner, looking for the answers to the questions we just raised. Mark down in your notebooks which pesukim answer the questions that we raised, and how. Students can also circle these pesukim on a printed text.
Circulate to ensure that students are working. In an online lesson, enter each breakout room for a few moments to check progress.
IV. Check for Understanding
Teacher: OK, time is up. What have you come up with? Why the arba minim?
Student: To celebrate bringing in the harvest when the crops are ready.
Teacher: In which verse did you find this?
Student: 39.
Teacher: Please read the verse to the class.
Student: בְּאָסְפְּכֶם אֶת תְּבוּאַת הָאָרֶץ (when you gather the crops of the land).
Teacher: And what is the purpose of our sitting in sukkot, according to the Torah? How is it historically significant?
Student: To remind us that we lived in sukkot when God took us out of Egypt.
Teacher: In which verse did you find this info?
Student: 43.
Teacher: Please read the verse to the class.
Student: לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt).
V. Class Work
Teacher: So the holiday of Sukkot has two purposes – to celebrate harvesting the crops AND to remind us of our Exodus from Egypt when we lived in sukkot.
Now, let’s talk about the arba minim. What are they?
Distribute the Four Species chart (linked above) or share the Padlet link.
Student: Lulav, Etrog, Hadassim, Aravot.
Read verse 40 to the class. Ask students to identify each of the four species according to its Biblical name and fill in the chart together, using the handout or the Padlet to complete for each species: its common name, Biblical terminology, English translation, and symbolism. Then, add a drawing of each one of the species. If students need further assistance finding correct images of the arba minim, they can research online. Students should take notes alongside their drawings pointing out the physical characteristics of each of the arba minim and where/how they grow, as described in the pesukim.
VI. Conclusion
Hevrutot share with the class what they learned about what these Four Species represent. The main takeaways from each group’s presentation can be shared on the classroom whiteboard. This lesson continues on in part 2.
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE TO PART 2.