Etrog 231659 224415796 2008-07-08T19:21:30Z Xyz7890 4797145 proper dab tag [[Image:Etrog diagram.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A diagram of the [[Halacha|Halachic]] properties of an [[etrog]].]] {{otheruses}} '''Etrog,''' is the [[Hebrew]] name for the [[citron]] or ''Citrus medica''. This is the standard [[Romanization of Hebrew|romanization]] of the original lettering אֶתְרוֹג, which is according to the [[Sephardic]] pronunciation. Some still follow the [[Ashkenazi]] version calling it ''esrog'', by others it is [[transliterated]] as ''athrog'' or similar<ref>See [http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter4.html#acid The Citrus Industry] as a common example.</ref>. It is well known as one of the [[four species]] used in the rituals associated with the [[Jewish holiday]] of [[Sukkot]]. In some period of time it was also regarded as a major Jewish symbol. [[Leviticus]] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0323.htm 23:40] [[Plants mentioned in the Bible|refers]] to the ''etrog'' as ''pri eitz hadar'' (פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר), which literally means, "a fruit of the beautiful tree." In modern [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], ''hadar'' refers to the [[genus]] [[citrus]], while [[Nahmanides]] (1194 &ndash; c. 1270) suggests that the word was the original Hebrew name for the citron. According to him, the word ''etrog'' was introduced over time, adapted from the [[Aramaic]]. The [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name for the citron fruit, ''itranj'' (اترنج), mentioned in [[hadith]] literature, is also associated with the Hebrew. After its main role in the ritual on Sukkot, it is a common Ashkenazi custom to eat the etrog on [[Tu Bishvat]] in form of a [[sugar]]ed [[Soup#Fruit soups|fruit soup]] which is also including [[quince]]<ref>[http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/rfcj/SPICESandCONDIMENTS/Citron_EtrogEsrog_JamJelly_-_pareve.html Recipe]</ref>, or as [[succade]]. By this time, they are praying to The Almighty to merit a beautiful Etrog for the upcoming Sukkoth.<ref>[http://parsha.blogspot.com/2008/01/tu-bishvat-prayer-for-beautiful-esrog.html Parsha Blog on Tu Bishvat] * [http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2006/10/spicy_blueberry.htm9l Velvet] * [http://www.aish.com/tubshvat/tubshvatinterests/Lchaim_to_the_Trees.asp Aish]</ref> ==Marketability== [[Image:Etrog with Pitom.jpg|Right|thumb|200 px|A [[Diamante citron|Yanover Etrog]] with a Pitam.]] ===Size=== The fruit is ready to harvest when it reaches about six inches in length. Although for commercial use it is not harvested before January, when at optimum size – for ritual use it must be picked while still small, in order to reach the market in time. The optimal size is also the best for marketability, as by growing larger it may lose from its beauty. Since the citron blooms several times a season, fruit may be picked during July and August, and even in June. According to [[Halacha]] the fruit must only reach the size of a [[hen]]'s [[Egg (biology)|egg]] in order to be considered kosher, but larger sizes are preferred as long as they can be held with one hand. Marketwise, a nice size fetches a higher price, as long the fruit is also good in other aspects. If both hands are needed to hold it, it is still kosher, but less desirable. ===Colour=== [[Image:Etrog1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A man in [[Bnei Brak]] examines a [[Yemenite etrog]] for flaws.]] According to Halacha the fruit should at least start to ripen and turn yellow before the first day of use. On the other hand, it is not nice and consequently not marketable when overripe, and colour turning to hot yellow. Therefore it is typically picked while still green, taking advantage of [[ethylene]] gas to ripen the fruit in a controlled manner. The same gas is also naturally released from [[apple]]s, so some growers simply put the fruits in the same box as apples. In any case, one should be very careful while experimenting with ethylene, since it may cause the small peduncle stalk (the ''oketz'') to fall off, and render the etrog un-kosher. ===Cleanliness=== [[Image:Etrog without Pitom.jpg|Right|thumb|200 px|A [[Diamante citron|Yanover Esrog]] whithout a Pitam.]] The ''etrog'' used in the [[mitzvah]] of the [[four species]] must be largely unblemished, with the fewest black specks or other flaws. The greatest cleanliness is required on the tapered top portion, which is called ''hotem'', referring to the nose of an animal. Extra special care is needed to cut around the leaves and thorns that may scratch the fruit. It is also important to protect the fruit-bearing trees from any dust and carbon, which may get caught in the [[stomata]] of the fruit during growth, and may later appear as a black dot. ===Shape=== The etrog may differ in shape, since the several citron varieties used for that purpose, each bear fruits with a distinct form and shape. Furthermore, a specific variety or even a single tree may also bear fruit in several shapes and sizes. That's why a nice shape still plays a great role in the marketability of the fruit. An etrog of completely round shape is not-kosher, whilst a slanted or bent specimen is permissible but is not the greatest. The bearing branch must be arched down with care, in order to get the fruit growing straight in a downward position. Otherwise the fruit will be forced to make the curvature on its own body, while turned downwards because of its increasing weight. This practice must be performed very delicately in order not to break the stiff citron twig. While many go for the pyramid shape of [[variety etrog]], and others for the barrel shape of the [[Diamante citron|Diamante]], some look for an etrog with a [[gartel]]—a hourglass-like strip running around the middle, which is more commonly found on the [[Moroccan citron]]. [[Image:Musaic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|An unearthed mosaic from the floor of a sixth century C.E. [[synagogue]] in northern [[Negev]], [[Israel]], depicting two [[gartel]]ed [[etrog]]s at both sides of a [[Menorah (Temple)]] base.]] According to researchers, this ''gartel'' indicates when the bearing tree was infected by a certain [[virus]] or [[viroid]], which decreases the [[mesocarp|albedo]] on the specific spot. These viroids have been around since the time of [[Simon bar Kokhba|Bar Kokhba]] (circa 130 [[Common Era|CE]]), as obtained from the fact that [[archaeology|archaeologists]] have unearthed a [[mosaic]] depicting an etrog with a ''gartel''.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=6wVtRfI0V8UC&pg=PA249&lpg=PA249&dq=variety+etrog&source=web&ots=MvX5dpgQNO&sig=zCdLJ40fvB4TzUvFKXMahitahvs Bar-Joseph, M. 2003. Natural history of viroids-horticultural aspects, pp. 246-251. In: Viroids. CSIRO Publication, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.]</ref> Only the etrog is found to be susceptible to these viroids, proving again that the etrog is genetically pure, and has not changed much over the centuries. <ref>[http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/index.php?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&therow=796030 The Search for the Authentic Citron: Historic and Genetic Analysis; HortScienc 40(7):1963-1968. 2005]</ref> ===Pitom=== [[Image:ValenciaP.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Valencia oranges with healthy ''pitoms'' intact, thanks to the picloram hormone.<br>''from reference article'']] An ''etrog'' with an intact ''pitom'' is considered especially valuable. A ''pitom'' is composed of a [[carpel|style]] (Hebrew: ''dad''), and a [[carpel|stigma]] (Hebrew: ''shoshanta''), which usually falls off during the growing process. However, varieties that shed off their ''pitom'' during growth are also kosher. When only the stigma breaks off, even post-harvest, it could still be considered kosher as long as part of the style has remained attached. If the whole pitom i.e. the stigma and style, are unnaturally broke off till the bottom, it is not kosher for the ritual use. Many ''pitoms'' are preserved today thanks to an [[auxin]] discovered by Dr. [[Eliezer E. Goldschmidt]], formerly professor of horticulture at the [[Hebrew University]]. Working with the [[picloram]] hormone in a citrus [[orchard]] one day, he discovered to surprise that some of the [[Valencia orange]]s found nearby had preserved beautiful, perfect ''pitoms''. Usually a citrus fruit, other than an etrog or ''citron hybrid'' like the [[Bergamot orange|bergamot]], does not preserve its ''pitom''. When it occasionally does, it should at least be dry, sunken and very fragile. In this case the ''pitoms'' were all fresh and healthy just like those of the [[Morocco Citron|Moroccan]] or [[Greek citron]] varieties. Experimenting with the picloram in a laboratory, Professor Goldschmidt eventually found the correct “dose” to achieve the desired effect: one droplet of the chemical in three million drops of water. This invention is highly appreciated by the Jewish community.<ref>[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-9122(197101)58:1%3C14:SAITC(%3E2.0.CO;2-I Style Abscission in the Citron. ''American Journal of Botany'', Vol. 58, no 1. pp. 14-23]</ref> ==Purity== In order for a citron to be kosher it must be pure, not [[grafting|grafted]] nor [[breeding|bred]] with any other [[species]], therefore only a few traditional varieties are used. In addition, the plantations must be under strict rabbinical [[hechsher|supervision]]. {{commons|Citrus_fruits#Citrons|Etrog}} ===Tradition and Molecular Evidence=== The [[Citron]] varieties traditionally used as [[Etrog]], are the [[Diamante Citron]] from Italy, the [[Greek Citron]], the [[Balady Citron]] from [[Israel]], the [[Moroccan Citron| Moroccan]] and [[Yemenite Citron]]s. {{Etrog}} A general [[DNA]] study was arranged by the world-renowned [[research]]er of the etrog, Prof. E.E. Goldschmidt and colleagues, who positively testified 12 famous [[accession]]s of citron for purity and being [[genetics|genetic]]ally related. As they clarify in their joint publication, this is only referring to the [[genotype|genotypic]] information which could be changed by [[Plant sexuality|breeding]] for e.g. out cross [[pollination]] etc., not about [[grafting]] which is not suspected to change anything in the genes.<ref>A brief documentation of this study could be found at the [http://www.lal.ufl.edu/societies/ISC/gcgn/Appendix_9.PDF Global Citrus Germplasm Network].</ref> [[Image:Simanim.jpg|left|thumb|260px|The internal properties of an '''Etrog''', represented by cross section of the [[Balady citron|Lefkowitz variety]].]] The [[Fingered Citron|Fingered]] and [[Florentine Citron]]s although they are also [[Citron]] varieties or maybe [[plant sexuality|hybrids]], are not used for the [[ritual]]. The [[Corsican Citron]] is no longer in use even it was once used and sacred. ===Selections and Care=== In addition to the above, there are many rabbinical indicators to identify pure etrogs out of possible hybrids. Those traditional specifications were preserved by continues [[artificial selection|selections]] accomplished by professional farmers.<ref>Article by Professor Goldschmidt, published by [[Tehumin]], summer 5741 (1981), booklet 2, p. 144</ref> The most accepted indicators are as following: 1) a pure etrog has a thick rind, in contrast to its narrow pulp [[segment]]s which are also almost dry, 2) the outer surface of an etrog fruit is ribbed and warted, and 3) the etrog peduncle is somewhat buried inward; a [[lemon]] or different citron hybrid is opposing one or all of the specifications.<ref>Letter by rabbi [[Shmuel Yehuda Katzenellenbogen]] of [[Padua]] midst the 16th century, printed in [[Moses Isserles|Teshuvat ha'Remo]] chapter 126</ref> A later and not so widely accepted indicator is the orientation of the seed, which should be pointing vertically by an etrog, except if it was strained by its neighbors; by a lemon and hybrids they are positioned horizontally even when there is enough space.<ref>Shiurey Kneseth Hagdola and Olat Shabbat, cited by [[Magen Avraham]], [[Orach Chaim]] chapter 648, comment 23</ref> The etrog is typically grown from cuttings that are two to four years old, the tree begins to bear fruit when it is around four years old.<ref>Chiri, Alfredo. (2002). [http://home.att.net/~oc_crfg/alfredo-sep02.htm Etrog]</ref> If the tree germinates from seeds, it will not fruit for about seven years, and there may be some [[citrus#Cultivation|genetic change]] to the tree or fruit in the event of [[Plant propagation|seed propagation]].<ref>[http://www.sunkist.com/products/growing_packing.asp Sunkist Website] * [http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/pdf/tncitrus.htm Citrus Propagation by Ultimate Citrus] * [http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/pdf/propagation.pdf Fact Sheet HS-86 June 1994 by the University of Florida] * [http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/shuler_p/classeswebsites/propagation_2.htm CROP PROPAGATION II: SEXUAL PROPAGATION]</ref> ==References== * [[Shulchan Aruch]], [[Orach Chaim]], 648 and commentaries. {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/ethrog.html The Citrus Variety Collection] by the [[University of California]] Riverside * [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/citron.html Description of citron and varieties by Purdue University] * [http://blog.bibleplaces.com/2006_10_01_archive.html Mosaic floor from Tiberias synagogue featuring a ''lulav'' (palm frond) and ''etrog'' (citron), now on display at Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv] * [http://www.uoregon.edu/~dfalk/courses/ejud/synagogues_files/image018.jpg Ancient Treasures and the Dead Sea Scrolls] * [http://www.jewlicious.com/wp-content/uploads/TM/floor1.jpg Mosaic depicting an ''etrog''] * [http://www.rigal.freeserve.co.uk/jewish/customs/indexpage.htm Lulav, Etrog, Shofar and Menorah, 2nd Cent. CE, Ostia Synagogue] * [http://members.verizon.net/vze3xycv/images/coins/JewRvlts/1stRevLulavEtrogO.jpg An antique Hebrew coin depicting an ''etrog''] * Etrog Varieties with pictures, from [http://www.esrogfarm.com/esrogvarieties/web/default/ Zeide Reuven Etrog Farm] * More information on the etrog by [http://www.milechai.com/judaism/esrog.html Milechai.com] * [http://www.chayas.com/sheela.htm#ethrog Agitation for the Yemenite Citron] * [http://www.jewfaq.org/etrog.htm Judaism 101] Information and pictures. * [http://www.jewishtoronto.net/page.html?ArticleID=113423 UJA of Greater Toronto] * [http://www.forward.com/articles/11624/ ''The Jewish Daily Forward''] * Information on citron varieties [http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9360848/citron Concise.Britannica.com] or by [http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/fruits/citron.htm InnVista.com] * Pictures [http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/citrusvarieties/uncommon3.html homecitrusgrowers.co.uk] * DNA study [http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=741_38 ActaHort] {{Four Species}} [[Category:Citrus]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Citron]] [[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]] [[Category:Sukkot]] [[Category:Four Species]] [[ar:أترج]] [[de:Etrog]] [[fr:Etrog]] [[it:Etrog]] [[he:אתרוג]] [[pl:Etrog]] [[fi:Sukaattisitruuna]] [[sv:Etrog]] [[tr:Ağaç kavunu]] [[yi:אתרוג]]