The Torah establishes the obligation to take on Sukkot four species – the lulav, etrog, hadas and arava.
In practice, we actually take seven species: one lulav, one etrog, three hadasim and two aravot. We will explore the symbolic connections between the Sukkot species and the "seven species" of the Land of Israel, and we will trace the implicit biblical links between the four species and water via a close reading of the "nisukh ha-mayim" descriptions in the Musaf Offerings for Sukkot.
Wherein lies the significance of this parallel betweenthese groups? Generally, kedusha (sanctity) manifests itself in the world in one of three ways: time, place and people. The highest level of kedusha is attained when these three forms of kedusha merge, when a sacred person enters a sacred place at a sacred time. The unique sanctity of Sukkot combines all three categories of kedusha together with the four species – the symbol of God's providence.
