Blessing on Taking the Lulav

Blessing on Taking the Lulav On Sukkot, except on Shabbat, the lulav and etrog are taken before Hallel. Some say the following: pi¥77) May it be Your will, LORD my God and God of my fathers, that through the fruit of the citron tree, the palm frond, the myrtle branches and willows of the brook, the letters of Your unique name draw close to one another and become united in my hand. Make it known I am called by Your name, so that [evil] will fear to come close to me. When I wave them, may a rich flow of blessings flow from the supreme Source of wisdom to the place of the Tabernacle and the site of the House of our God. May the command of these four species be considered by You as if I had fulfilled it in all its details and roots, as well as the 613 commandments dependent on it, for it is my intention to unify the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Divine Presence, in reverence and love, to unify the name Yod-Heh with Vav-Heh, in perfect unity in the name ofall Israel, Amen. Blessed is the LorD forever, Amen and Amen. Ps. 89 The lulav is taken in the right hand, with the myrtle leaves on the right, willow leaves on the left. The etrog is taken in the left hand, with its pointed end toward the floor. Then say the following blessing: 1713 Blessed are You, LorD our God, King of the Universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, and has commanded us about taking the lulav. On the first day the lulav is taken, add: 1712 Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us and brought us to this time. Invert the etrog, so that its pointed end is facing up. Face the front of the synagogue and wave the lulav and etrog in the following sequence, three times in each direction: right, left, ahead, up, down, back. Continue to hold the lulav and etrog during Hallel. 1662. The lulay, etrog, myrtle and willow leaves bear witness to the power of rain to give life to the earth and its produce. We offer them to God in the hope that He will continue to send rain in the coming year. The meditation speaks of the commandmentin spiritual terms: just as we, on earth, dedicate this act to heaven, so may heaven grant a downward flow of God's blessings to earth.