This is a black and white photograph of two men picking etrogs. One man is standing next to the tree and is carefully handing an etrog to the man sitting on the ground, next to whom there is a box padded with flax to protect the fruit. There are already eight etrogs in the box and room for a few more.
The etrog, a citrus fruit, is one of the Four Species, along with the willow, myrtle, and lulav (palm branch), that are used to fulfill one of the major commandments of the festival of Sukkot. In order for the etrog to be kosher (suitable) for use on Sukkot, it must be unblemished and complete. Pickers and packers must therefore be very careful when handling them.
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Sukkot and the Four Species - The Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) has two central commandments. The first is that Jews should live in a temporary abode (Sukkah) for seven days (eight days outside of Israel). The second is that on every day of the festival, Jews take the Four Species (Arba’at HaMinim) in hand and make a blessing over them.
Each of the Four Species has certain requirements for them to be fitting (Kosher) for the commandment (Mitzvah). According to tradition, the buyer should check that the requirements are present in each of the species. The Four Species consist of the Lulav (palm branch), the Etrog (citrus fruit), Hadass (myrtle branches) and Aravah (willow branches).
