Siman 645 – The Lulav

וChelek 6

1. There is a mitzva min hamuvchar to take a lulav whose leaves all lay one upon another, and do not point to do the sides. (Rama 1– MB 3)

2. If most of the leaves are either hanging down, detached, or have hardened away from the spine the lulav is possul. (ShA 2)

3. When we say “most of the leaves“, we are referring to the leaves at the top four tefachim of the lulav. (MB 8)

4. Each leaf of the lulav grows double. The double leaf is attached at its back. The mitzva is to take a lulav whose leaves are not split and whose top, middle leaf (t’yomes) is not separated at all. (ShA 3)

5. The Gr”a writes that the t’yomes can be split up until half its length with no reason to be machmir. (MB 16)

6. If the t’yomes is not doubled, the lulav is defective and possul. (Rama 3)

7. If the t’yomes is mostly split, it is possul for the first day only. (MB 17, 19)

8. A dry lulav is possul. How dry? If most leaves (or even just the t’yomes) have lost their green, and have turned pale, get another lulav. If there are no fresh ones to be found in the city, you can rely on the Rama who considers dry lulavim kasher as long as they do not crumble when you scratch them with your nail. (ShA 5 – MB 22, 25)

9. Some lulavim grow twin middle leaves. Both are considered t’yomeses and therefore, even if only one of them is split (or dry?), the lulav is possul.(MB 15)

10. If the top of the lulav is clipped off, it’s possul. “Top“ means most of the leaves that extend above the spine (shidra).“Top“ also means if the majority of the t’yomes alone is clipped. If only a minority of the t’yomes is clipped, you can be makil to say a beracha on it only if no other lulav is available. L’chatchila, choose a lulav that is not clipped even a bit. (ShA 6 – MB 28, 30)

11. A lulav that has two t’yomeses, one clipped, and the other not, is easier to be maykil with. (MB 29)

12. If a lulav splits wide enough to look like it has two tops, it is possul. This is true even if the t’yomes is not split at all. (ShA 7– MB 32)

13. A bent lulav is possul , unless it bends backwards, which is normal. (ShA 8)

14. A lulav whose t’yomes is folded over at its top is kasher. The Rosh preferred such lulavim since it ensures a complete t’yomes. However, if most of the leaves are folded, don’t use that lulav, unless there is no other. (ShA 9 – MB 40)

15. If the leaves are folded in half and look like two leaves, the lulav is possul. This is true even if only the t’yomes folded in half. (MB 41)