Hebrew Voices #78 – Chinese Origin of the Sukkot Etrog
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, Chinese Origin of the Sukkot Etrog, Nehemia Gordon talks with ordained-rabbi Dr. David Moster about the “fruit” we are commanded to use on the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:40). They discuss how the Citron … Continue reading →
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, Chinese Origin of the Sukkot Etrog, Nehemia Gordon talks with ordained-rabbi Dr. David Moster about the "fruit" we are commanded to use on the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:40). They discuss how the Citron or "Esrog" arrived in the Land of Israel in the Persian Period, how it played an important role in the rise of the Pharisees, and how it eventually became the distinctive symbol of Judaism - replacing God's holy name. Their conversation explores the Orthodox, Samaritan, and Karaite interpretations of Lev 23:40, its function in the Feast of Booths, and why a southeast Asian-Jewish fruit is a key ingredient in traditional Christmas cakes.
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Hebrew Voices #78 - Chinese Origin of the Sukkot Etrog
You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.
Nehemia: Shalom, this is Nehemia Gordon and welcome to Hebrew Voices. I am here today with Dr. David Moster. He is the director and founder of the Institute of Biblical Culture at biblicalculture.org. He has a PhD in Bible from Bar Ilan University, a masters in Ancient Israel from NYU, and Rabbinical Ordination from Yeshiva University. He’s the author of a book called, Etrog: How a Chinese Fruit Became a Jewish Symbol, published this year. It just came out a few months ago.
Dr. Moster, or Rabbi Moster, tell us about the etrog. The etrog, of course, for many of my listeners… some will be familiar because they grew up going to Jewish synagogues, but many will only be familiar with it because they saw the movie Ushpizin, which has that big lemon-looking thing. You wrote a whole book, a whole PhD on it. Tell us about the etrog.
David: Thank you for having me, Nehemia. It’s a real pleasure. The etrog… it’s good that you mentioned the lemon. The etrog is a cousin of the lemon. It’s very lemony, it’s a citrus fruit. It’s actually one of the most ancient citrus fruits, and it’s characterized by its pungent smell, and also has a lot of bumps, usually. It’s called in scientific parlance, Citrus Medica, or a lot of people call it, citron. Not to be confused with… in France, they call the lemon “citron,” which gets confusing. So people think, “Oh, the citron,” they found it. No, that’s the lemon in France.
The etrog is a lemon-like fruit that is easy to hold in your hand - most of them – and it’s one of the many types of Citrus Medica. There are many, many types of Citrus Medica, and a lot of them are really interesting. One of the most interesting is called the “Buddha’s Hand citron” which looks like if you took a hand and you stuck out your fingers. It’s one of the most fascinating fruits on earth.
Nehemia: Did you say Buddha?
David: Buddha’s Hand, yeah.
Nehemia: Like the Buddhist person, Buddha. Before you get to all that, I want you to talk about that, but I want you to tie it in directly to the Bible. This is Hebrew Voices. We love the Bible here. Let’s start with Leviticus 23:40, and actually even before Leviticus 23:40. For someone who’s never been to a Jewish synagogue before, what does the etrog do? What is the function? Some people might know it as “esrog,” you Jews in the Diaspora.
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I’m hearing this on October 2 2023, I really enjoy Nehemia and David doing these, what great education about things I may never experience elsewhere.
It was an interesting topic, answering questions I had about what are indeed traditions, rather than commandments, for Sukkot. The background, historical info was a surprise and a good addition to my ‘bank’ of knowledge. Also, I enjoyed the interaction between you, Nehemia, and your guest, Dr. Moster. Todah!
loquat trees grow in abundance here in central texas. when i was a kid, someone said dont eat that, it’s poisonous (maybe to deter homeless people? idk) theyre called chinese plums they are SO deliclious! the seeds are big fat ones, and they germinate very easily I LOVE LOQUATS!
The Bible just says “fruit of a splendourous tree”, but doesn’t specify what kind of fruit. However, I’d imagine that yelling out, “Hey, the Bible doesn’t say we need these things!” in a public place wouldn’t go over. When one sees the vastness of the etrog enterprise, how many of these are shipped around the world and how ridiculously expensive they can get (Ushpizim comes to mind) one suspects a less pious motive behind the perpetuation of this tradition. LOL!
Strog is still cultivated and exported in puerto rico. Locally is known as “cidra”. It was a prosperous industry until Brazil started their own crops.then our plantations became escarse. Now I know from where we got our fruit. Thank you for such wonderful teachings.
For me, what came to mind was “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, from 1969, Season 3 of Star Trek (the original series).
Yehovah’s *
Olive trees are a symbol of majesty, because kings get greased with olive oil. Yehvahs people will give honor to the king of kings. Sacharyah 4,11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? Revelation 11,4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
You mentioned citrus fruit from eastern asia. The word for orange in german is translated as “Apfelsine”. Apfelsine contains two words, apple and sine meaning China, in other words, oranges are apples from China.
I noticed that too. I know that Nehemia is always respectful of his guests and wouldn’t offend intentionally. However, it just comes out sometimes because Yehovah has written His name upon our hearts. Halleluyah!
Sensational!
We are listening to this in Israel (from Hawaii) on the eve of the 2nd day of Sukkot (Sept 26 2018) in Israel and had a big Citrus smile to our faces minute after minute, second after seconds while listing to this episode of Hebrew Voices.
Excellent interview for the holiday! Chag Sukkot Semach!
Hugs!
The olive tree would be a symbol of honor and majesty (in answer to Nehemia’s question) because, from it, comes oil used to anoint the King, as Yehovah commands,
I just love your teachings on the Tanach! Anytime I tune in I know that not only will I not be bored, I’ll be fascinated!
Is there any chance that the two red cords used to tie the lulavs in the above mosaic are related to the ritual of the scapegoat?
The beautiful tree could be the almond tree. Think of all the significance of the almond tree/branch within the Tanakh…. What branch ‘budded’ when placed in the ark? The almond branch 🙂 The branch/stick that was placed inside the ark in the Tabernacle…aka- the Sukkah of YHWH, was none other than an ALMOND branch. Chag Sameach!
The Olive Tree is the source of the Oil used by The Most High Yehovah to anoint King Saul, King David, & The Future King of Israel The Anointed One who will walk for Yehovah.
Olive Oil is also used to light the Alma that is to say The Holy of Holies in the Only One (echad) place on the face of the earth where Yehovah has chosen to place His name.
And the Only One (echad) place on the face (panay) of the earth that He, Yehovah will accept a Offering of Clean Things written in the Torah.
Olive Oil is a acceptable offering to Yehovah, once The 3rd. Temple is built we will be able to once again present olive oil to Yehovah.
Israel = good olive tree Gentiles= wild olive tree, grafted into the good. Romans11:11-24
Though not the point of the passage, Yeshayahu chapter 1 demonstrates that the Sukkah has a purpose of watching over the crops in a field.
I had to laugh when watching because I don’t think you realized that you were saying the name יהוה when reading the scripture. Rabbi Dr. David Moster, looked very uncomfortable at that time, but it could just be my perspective. Either way the name is being proclaimed as commanded!
two olive trees represent whole house of israel
Like the saying ” we learn something new everyday if we are not careful”. We always learn from your videos/ audios. Thanks.
So interesting! I especially liked that example Nehemia brought of using the swamp land to grow citrus … quite a different take on the saying “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” more like “If you buy really expensive swamp land and are surrounded by enemies, grow lemons!”
Forget Freudian narcissism psychology this sounds like a case of Dr.Seuss’ Star Bellied Sneetches. lol
What a refreshing topic! It brought back fairly intense memories of my mother’s Christmas baking. For old-timers, at least, citron is the sine qua non ingredient for both “stoellen” and lebkuchen, along with candied orange and lemon peel for the former. I think Mom also included it in fruitcake, but I’m not a fan of that. In fact, I have never seen a fresh citron, only the candied bits.
With regard to the oil, surely it is connected with the symbol of light from the temple’s menorah, and thus of the Holy Spirit, along with associations of Yahweh Jirah when he provided oil that did not fail or run out, both for one of the prophets and for the Maccabees (?). And this would have been pure olive oil, I’m pretty sure.
There is a brief mention of grapeseed oil in the explanation of Nazirite vows. It is certainly possible that oil was expressed from pine needles, but neither of these would produce the vast quantities used in cooking,for sacrifices, and for lamps (although animal tallow was probably plentiful enough to use for lamps in homes). So what else could the oil tree have been but the olive tree?
By the way, my mother’s name (and HER mother’s name) was Olive.
Loved this one of the etrog. I had just learned that it was indeed a rabinacal tradition and not really a biblical..that the branches were to build the sukkah. About the olive branch….I think it is the symbol of peace and it was in biblical times the mane ingredient for making bread.
I really enjoyed the enthusiasm you both had en the joy of learning together. Hope we get to hear more of both of you?
Why was the Olive tree important? Because a branch was brought to Noah by the dove he sent out. And so it is an important symbol of Shalom to this day.
Wow! Who knew such an obscure fruit could have so many relevant ties to history?
Yes the beautifil tree is the olive tree because of the oil with which you anoint the king–Moshiaj!
We are awaiting for His coming, a glorious day saying baruj haba bshem Yehovah!
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