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What to do with your second-hand citron

What should you do with them after Succot is over?

October 1, 2009 10:13
Etrog
3 min read

It’s a fascinating fact that in the Middle Ages, the humble etrog became part of a peace treaty. After fighting and losing yet another war, the Republic of Pisa was banned from trading in etrogim in 1329 by the Guelph League of Tuscany, headed by Florence. Etrogim or citrons had always been valuable, in fact, the Spanier merchants, from Frankfurt, became famous for trading in them. And this is strange when one considers the etrog’s sourness and thick skin, in comparison with other citrus fruits. They also need more water than other fruit trees, so their value lies purely in prayer.

Leviticus 23:40 tells us, “On the first day you shall take to yourselves the fruit of the goodly tree, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God , seven days.’’ Here the goodly tree means the Etrog tree. But why “goodly”? Translated it means, “uncertain” in biblical Hebrew while in Modern Hebrew it is, “citrus”.

Nevertheless Jews believe that because the etrog is both fragrant and has a taste, it is like a righteous person who studies and performs good deeds. Some liken its shape to a heart: the orb of the world; that the etrog represents man’s commonsense. Although some sages believe that the fig was the Tree of Knowledge, many consider that the etrog or citrus medica was that tree.

Certainly it is one of the earliest fruits brought from the east to the Mediterranean. The etrog is said to have originated in Mesopotamia in 4000 BCE and the ancient Mesopotamians revelled in the scent and the all-year beauty of the fruit.