​This is a black and white photograph taken in 1974 of a group of men praying the Shacharit (morning) service during the festival of Sukkot. The men are wearing tallitot (prayer shawls) and holding the Arba Minim (Four Species) that are used on Sukkot. The men are participating in hoshanot, a special Sukkot ceremony which includes walking in a circular procession while holding the Arba Minim and reciting prayers. The prayer service is taking place outside in Jerusalem. Although they are standing beside large Jerusalem stones, the exact location of this photograph isn't known. Benches and chairs are set up for the men to sit on during the prayers. All of the men are wearing kippot (yarmulkes) and some appear, according to their clothing, to be ultra-Orthodox.

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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).