Why Did His Cheap Etrog Smell Like The Garden of Eden?
Rabbi Yirmiyahu Cohen
Why do we take an etrog, lulav, hadassim and aravot on Sukkot—and what do these four species really represent? The answer goes much deeper than plants. From the human heart, eyes, lips and spine to four very different kinds of Jews, the Four Species carry a powerful message about serving Hashem and becoming one people. But the etrog has an even deeper story. What does it have to do with The Garden of Eden? Why has it become associated with joy? And what could possibly make a cheap etrog more beautiful than an expensive one? This fascinating Sukkot lesson ends with an unforgettable story about what Hashem may value most of all.