Sukkah 028

1:
In order for the etrog to be true to its name in the Torah [Leviticus 23:40], "glorious fruit", it must be as perfect as possible. The two mishnahs of this shiur list the criteria that define this 'glorious fruit'. The most obvious defect is if on the rind of the etrog there is anything that should not be there in a healthy fruit. Such defects are called a 'blister' in our mishnah. If such a blister appears in one spot on the etrog (and even two in separate spots) the etrog is not invalid.

2:
There are two natural protuberances on an etrog. One is the stem by which it is attached to the tree. The other is an umbrella-shaped nipple at the opposite end of the etrog. Not every etrog has this protuberance, but if the fruit did have one and it is now missing the etrog is invalid; if it naturally never had such a protuberance this does not invalidate the etrog. However, if just one blister (see explanation 1) appears on the protuberance it does invalidate the etrog.

3:
If someone has peeled the etrog it is invalid (though if only a small part of it has been peeled it is not invalid). Also, if it is split, with a cleft in the fruit, the etrog is invalid. If someone or something has made a visible hole in the etrog they have invalidated it. If the hole is not visible — such as a pin prick — the etrog has not been invalidated.

4:
The next consideration is colour: the etrog should be the colour of a lemon. If its colour is so dark that it looks black the etrog is invalid. If the colour of the etrog is green Rabbi Me'ir holds that it is valid, but Rabbi Yehudah holds that it is invalid. Halakhah follows the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah.

5:
We now come the the next mishnah, which continues listing the criteria by which we judge the validity of an etrog. This last consideration is size.

6:
In order for an etrog to be valid it must be at least the size of a hen's egg. In this matter halakhah follows the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah, against the opinion of Rabbi Me'ir who would permit an even smaller etrog.

7:
Regarding the maximal size of an etrog there is a maḥloket [difference of opinion] between Rabbi Yehudah ben-Ilai and Rabbi Yosé ben-Halafta. Rabbi Yehudah holds that one should be able to hold two etrogs in one hand, so their size would not be all that large. However, halakhah follows the opinion of Rabbi Yosé that even if the etrog is so large that one needs two hands to hold it it is nevertheless a valid etrog.

Some (pleasant) things are happening in my life at this time and they are taking up much of my time. I shall do my best in the coming weeks to send out as many shiurim as possible. Please be patient.