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Today’s Halacha:
When one performs the Na’anu’im, the waving of the Lulab, he must ensure that he holds the four species "Derech Gedilatan" – upright, in the position in which they grew. Some people mistakenly point the Arba Minim downward, toward the ground, when it comes time to wave the Lulab down. When waving the Lulab downward, one should keep it upright and simply move his hands downward. The Lulab should be held in the upright position at all times.
The Na’anu’im are performed by extending one’s arms fully outward and then bringing them back to one’s chest. Some people lazily move the Lulab and Etrog only slightly. The correct way to perform the waving is to extend the species outward to the full extent of one’s arms and then bring them back to the chest.
Ashkenazim and Sepharadim follow divergent customs with regard to the method of performing the Na’anu’im. Following the view of the Ritba (Rabbi Yom Tob Ben Abraham of Seville, Spain, 1250-1330), Ashkenazim not only move the four species to and fro, but also perform "Kiskus," lightly shaking the Lulab so that the leaves rustle. They gently "snap" the Lulab as they wave to create a rustling sound. The practice of the Sepharadim, however, which follows the view of Geonim (sages of the post-Talmudic era), Meiri (Rabbi Menahem Meiri, 1249-1315), Maggid Mishneh (Rav Vidal Yom Tov of Tolosa, Spain, 14th century), Rav David Abudarham (Spain, 14th century) and the Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 645), is to simply wave the Lulab back and forth without shaking it to rustle the leaves.
Furthermore, our custom is to follow the view of the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572) with regard to the sequence of the Na’anu’im. We wave the Lulab in the sequence of south, north, east and west. One should change directions by turning to the right. Meaning, after waving to the south, one should turn to his right until he is facing northward, and then wave. He should then turn to the right until he is facing eastward, and then wave, and so on. Even if turning to the right is not the quickest way to face the next direction, this is the way it should be done.
The Na’anu’im are made when one recites the Beracha on the Misva of Lulab, and then twice during the recitation of Hallel – during "Hodu L’Hashem Ki Tob," and during "Ana Hashem Hoshi’a Na." During the verses in Hallel, we do not wave the Lulab when reciting Hashem’s Name, in order not to distract one’s attention from concentrating on Hashem’s Name. One’s mind should be focused intently every time he recites Hashem’s Name, and therefore even a Misva like waving the Lulab is put on hold, so-to-speak, when we say Hashem’s Name in these verses during Hallel. This should give us an indication of the importance of concentration when reciting Hashem’s Name. If even a Misva does not override the need to properly concentrate when reciting Hashem’s Name, then certainly one must refrain from engaging in any activity when reciting a Beracha. Many people, unfortunately, are negligent with regard to this Halacha. Thus, for example, it is common for people to begin reciting "Asher Yasar" after using the restroom while they are still washing or drying their hands. The Halacha of the Na’anu’im should remind us of the importance of refraining from all activities during the recitation of a Beracha, and concentrating intently on the words, especially when reciting Hashem’s Name.
When waving the Lulab during the recitation of "Ana Hashem Hoshi’a Na," one must ensure not to take a breath in between the syllables of a single word, such as between the syllables "A" and "Na" in the word "Ana." Since one must prolong the pronunciation of these words so he can wave the Lulab in one direction for each syllable, he is prone to mispronouncing the word by taking a breath in between syllables. One must exercise care to ensure that he pronounces all the words correctly, and this requires completing each word in a single breath.
Why do we wave the Lulab while reciting "Ana Hashem Hoshi’a Na," but not when we recite the verse "An Hashem Hasliha Na"?
The Abudarham explains that the purpose of waving the Lulab is to oppose the Satan’s attempts to bring upon us harmful winds and destructive dew. The waving of the Lulab thus expresses our request for a Yeshu’a (salvation) from potential threats. Therefore, we wave the Lulab while reciting the verse "Ana Hashem Hoshi’a Na," when we plead for salvation. The verse "Ana Hashem Hasliha Na," by contrast, speaks about success, not salvation, and it therefore does not relate to the theme of the waving of Lulab.
Women are exempt from the obligation of Arba Minim, as they are – generally speaking – exempt from "Misvot Aseh She’ha’zman Gerama" (time-bound affirmative commands). However, many righteous women wish to perform this Misva, and they are certainly allowed to do so. The custom of the Sepharadim is for women not to recite a Beracha over Misvot from which they are exempt, and thus Sepharadi women should not recite a Beracha when taking the Lulab. (Ashkenazim, by contrast, follow the view that women recite a Beracha when performing a Misva from which they are exempt.) Furthermore, a woman who takes the Lulab is not required to perform the Na’anu’im; she simply picks up the Lulab, without waving it.
It is proper to review the procedure and laws of the Na’anu’im before Sukkot, so one knows what to do when Sukkot arrives. This is required as part of the preparations for Sukkot. The Misva of Na’anu’im is an especially important one, and one which has immense value. Some Rabbis claimed that the entire process of the month of Elul, the Ten Days of Repentance and Yom Kippur is intended as preparation for the great Misva of shaking the Lulab.
It is proper to take the Lulab in the morning before the Shaharit service, in the Sukka, for various reasons related to Kabbalah. This was the custom of the Arizal. And despite the fact that, as Hacham Ovadia Yosef noted, we generally follow the rule that more frequent Misvot should be performed before less frequent Misvot – and thus we should seemingly pray Shaharit before taking the Lulab – it is nevertheless preferable to take the Lulab before praying Shaharit. The Arizal also had the practice of taking the Lulab specifically before sunrise, despite the fact that we generally perform these Misvot only after sunrise. Those who adhere to the Arizal’s customs should take the Lulab before sunrise, but the more common custom, clearly, is to take the Lulab only after sunrise, which, this time of year, occurs at approximately 6:45am.
Summary: One must ensure to hold the four species upright throughout the process of the Na’anu’im, and to extend one’s arms to their full length each time he waves the Lulab and Etrog. The custom of the Sephardim is to wave the Lulab without shaking it. Our custom is to wave in the sequence of south, north, east, west. When performing the Na’anu’im during Hallel, should not wave the Lulab when saying Hashem’s Name. One must also ensure not to breathe in between two syllables in a single word when waving the Lulab during Hallel. According to Sephardic custom, women who take the Lulab do not recite the Beracha. It is preferable to take the Lulab before the Shaharit service, in the Sukka.
