How to say the blessing over the lulav and etrog TB Sukkah 39, 38, 37, and 34

To appreciate the issue raised on TB Sukkah 39, we have to understand some of the issues discussed on the previous dappim. On TB Sukkah 34b we learn that the four species all taken together make up one single mitzvah. “And from where is it derived that failure to take each of the species prevents fulfillment of the mitzva with the others? The verse states: “And you shall take [ulkaḥtem],” from which it is derived based on the etymological similarity that it shall be a complete taking [lekiḥa tamma] consisting of all the species.” (Sefaria.org translation) If any of the species, lulav (palm), myrtle branches, willow branches, or etrog is missing then you have not fulfilled the mitzvah at all. It is interesting to note though that tosefot ד"ה שתהא לקיחה תמה quotes the Halakhot Gedolot saying that the four species do not have to be bundled. One may fulfill his obligation by picking up each one of the 4 species one at a time. Although Rabbeinu Tam agrees that the four species don’t need to be bundled, he insists that one must bundle them altogether to fulfill the mitzvah because that is the enhanced best way (הידור מצוה). This is our custom to this very day.

On TB Sukkah 37b-38a we learn that one fulfills the mitzvah of lulav and etrog just by holding them. Although we shake them when we say the blessing and during Hallel, waving the lulav and etrog is not essential. We learn this halakha when the Gemara explains why we waive the lulav and etrog. “Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He moves them to and fro to dedicate them to He Whom the four directions are His. He raises and lowers them to He Whom the heavens and earth are His. In the West, Eretz Yisrael, they taught it as follows. Rabbi Ḥama bar Ukva said that Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: He moves them to and fro in order to request a halt to harmful winds, storms and tempests that come from all directions; he raises and lowers them in order to halt harmful dews and rains that come from above. Rabbi Yosei bar Avin said, and some say that it was Rabbi Yosei bar Zevila who said: That is to say non-essential aspects of a mitzva avert calamity, as waving is a non-essential aspect of the mitzva, since even if one failed to wave the loaves he fulfilled his obligation, and nevertheless it halts harmful winds and dews.” (Sefaria.org)

On daf TB Sukkah 39 we learn about the principle “one recites a blessing over them prior to [over] their performance - מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּיתָן)”. When you look at any traditional prayer book we recite a blessing before and a blessing after reciting Hallel. On our daf we learn that reciting the blessing before Hallel is required; however, the blessing after Hallel is only a custom. “The mishna continues: In a place where the custom is to recite a blessing when reciting hallel, he should recite a blessing. Abaye said: The Sages taught that the obligation to recite a blessing is dependent on custom only with regard to the blessing recited after hallel. However, before hallel, there is a mitzva to recite a blessing, as Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: With regard to all the mitzvot, one recites a blessing over them prior to [over] their performance.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Tosefot ד"ה עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּיתָן wrestles with the principal “one recites a blessing over them prior to [over] their performance - מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּיתָן)” as it applies to the lulav and etrog. The problem is as soon to pick up the lulav and etrog you have already fulfill the mitzvah before you have even recited the blessing. Remember we’ve learned that waving the lulav and etrog is a nonessential aspect of the mitzvah. Tosefot provides three different solutions.

The first solution is to pick up only three out of the four species. If any of the four species is missing you haven’t yet fulfill the mitzvah. You say the blessing and then pick up the fourth and the last of the species. The second solution is to hold the four species together, but hold one of them upside down (the easiest and most convenient one is the etrog). We shall shortly learn that we must hold the four species in the manner that they grow to fulfill the mitzvah. You say the blessing and then turn the etrog right side up. The third solution can be called the anti-kavanah solution. You pick up the four species specifically saying that you have the intention of not fulfilling the mitzvah until after you say the blessing.

Today everybody selects the second solution and holds the etrog upside down while saying the blessing and then turning it right side up in order to observe the principle “one recites a blessing over them prior to [over] their performance - מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּיתָן).”