Page 384 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 149 - Pesulim of Daled Minim & Pesulim of the Lulav

]3[ Since the Torah writes “Pri Eitz Hadar” Chazal understand that although
there is a general concept of glorifying mitzvos, [usually] this is to serve as an
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addition to the mitzva (mitzva min ha’muvchar). However, regarding the arba
minim, the Torah requires beauty. Species that are not deemed beautiful may not
be used to fulfill the mitzva at all. Although the word “hadar” appears only in
connection to the esrog, where it says “pri eitz hadar” (a beautiful fruit of the tree),
nevertheless, since all four species appear in the same posuk, the lesson is
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extended to include all four [of them]. However, since the Torah does not
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specify what determines beauty, Chazal were charged with the task of defining
these criteria. 13

]4[ There is another invalidating factor of Torah origin that applies to all
mitzvos known as “mitzva ha’ba ba’aveira” - when a sin facilitates the
performance of the mitzva. [In the case of lulav] this means that one attempts to
fulfill the mitzva with a lulav that he stole. 14

]5[ There are six invalidating factors in the four species: (1) one who [does
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not] have all four species; (2) [the species] do not bear their proper names; (3)
םדו רשב
Therefore, although one may borrow another the ‘hadar’ fruit, it implies that it must be
person’s lulav on chol ha’moed, using a stolen beautiful by definition. (See Succah 31a.)
one is problematic anytime. See below 152:12
for a further discussion of the matter. 11. Except according to R’ Yehuda who
limits this lesson to the esrog itself, Chazal
10. In the shiras ha’yam, the posuk understand that since all four species are
(Shemos 15:2) declares: “This is my God and I mentioned in the same posuk, ‘hadar’ applies
will glorify Him”, which Chazal (Shabbos 133b) to the lulav, hadasim, and aravos, as well
understand to mean that we must enhance (Succah 31a. See Levush and Shulchan Aruch
our mitzvos by making a beautiful succah, HaRav ).
ז
beautiful tzitzis, beautiful sefer Torah, etc. This
is a general concept applied to mitzvos in 12. See the Chasam Sofer (Chidushim,
general and often, one should be encouraged Succah 31a).
ח
ו
to spend more money in order to enhance his
mitzva. Although this applies to all mitzvos as 13. This indeed occupies much of the
an ideal, since the Torah refers to the esrog as discussion in the coming pages as to what

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