When Sukkot’s First Day Fell on Shabbos: How Lulav Was Once Taken
Sukkot 2026 begins on Shabbos, which raises a fascinating historical question: was the lulav always set aside when the first day of Sukkot fell on Shabbos?
No. The Mishnah describes a period when the first-day mitzvah of lulav was performed even on Shabbos. People prepared in advance, brought their lulavim before Shabbos, and took special care that each person would fulfill the Torah requirement with a set that legally belonged to him. Later, the Sages established the practice we follow today: the Four Species are not taken on Shabbos at all.
Why Was the First Day Different?
The Torah says, “You shall take for yourselves on the first day” (Vayikra 23:40). Outside the Beis HaMikdash, the Torah-level obligation to take the Four Species applies on the first day of Sukkot. In the Beis HaMikdash, the lulav was taken all seven days. After the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai instituted taking it throughout Sukkot as a remembrance of the Mikdash.
The Rambam states the earlier rule explicitly: the first-day mitzvah applied everywhere “even on Shabbos.” See Rambam, Hilchos Shofar, Sukkah VeLulav 7:13.
What Happened When Day One Was Shabbos?
Mishnah Sukkah 4:4 gives us an unusually vivid picture. When the first day of Sukkot fell on Shabbos, people brought their lulavim to the Temple Mount on Friday, before Shabbos began. The attendants received them and arranged them for the next morning; the elders placed theirs in a chamber.
There was an important ownership issue. On the first day, the Torah says lachem—“for yourselves”—which means that a borrowed lulav is not enough. Because people might accidentally end up with someone else’s lulav, the court instructed everyone to declare that whoever received his lulav would acquire it as a gift. See Mishnah Sukkah, chapter 4.
Then Things Got Chaotic
The Mishnah continues with a striking detail. The next morning, the attendants would put the lulavim before the people, and the crowd would rush to retrieve them. People began grabbing lulavim and even striking one another in the confusion.
When the beis din saw what was happening, it changed the procedure: each person would take his lulav in his own home instead. The mitzvah remained; the logistics changed.
This is more than an interesting historical anecdote. It shows how seriously the first-day requirement of personal ownership was treated. It also shows that practical safeguards around a mitzvah can change while the underlying halachic principles remain the same.
Was This Only in the Beis HaMikdash?
The Gemara discusses two traditions: one says people brought their lulavim to the Temple Mount before Shabbos, while another says they brought them to the synagogue. The Gemara explains that the first describes the period when the Beis HaMikdash stood, while the second describes a later period. See Gemara Sukkah 43a.
That makes the history especially interesting: first-day lulav on Shabbos was not simply a Temple ritual. The discussion reflects a broader first-day mitzvah whose practice developed over time.
So Why Don’t We Take Lulav on Shabbos Today?
The Gemara explains the concern: someone might take a lulav to an expert to learn the blessing or the proper waving and carry it four amos in a public domain on Shabbos. Because of that concern, the Sages decreed against taking the lulav on Shabbos. See Gemara Sukkah 42b.
The Rambam records the practical conclusion for our era: even with a fixed calendar, the lulav is not taken on Shabbos, including when Shabbos is the first day of Sukkot, both in Eretz Yisrael and elsewhere. See Rambam 7:18.
What This Means for Sukkot 2026
In 2026, Sukkot begins Friday night, September 25, and the first day is Shabbos, September 26. We therefore do not take the lulav and etrog on the first day. The first actual taking of the Four Species is Sunday, September 27.
There is an interesting contrast with the scene described in the Mishnah. In ancient times, people might have been busy on Friday making sure their own lulav was waiting in the right place for Shabbos morning. In 2026, we still prepare before Shabbos—but the lulav itself waits until Sunday.
FAQ
Did Jews once take lulav when the first day of Sukkot was Shabbos?
Yes. The Mishnah describes exactly that practice and the preparations made on Friday beforehand.
Why did everyone need his own lulav?
On the first day, the Torah’s word lachem requires the Four Species to belong to the person performing the mitzvah. The Mishnah therefore describes a gift arrangement designed to solve accidental mix-ups.
Do we take lulav on Shabbos in Israel today?
No. The Rambam rules that in the present era it is not taken on Shabbos even on the first day, including in Eretz Yisrael.
When is the first lulav taking in 2026?
Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Sources
- Mishnah Sukkah 4:4
- Talmud Sukkah 42b
- Talmud Sukkah 43a
- Rambam, Hilchos Shofar, Sukkah VeLulav, chapter 7
This article provides general educational information. For practical halachic questions, consult your rav.
Preparing for Sukkot 2026? Explore EasyEtrog’s lulav and etrog sets and order early so your Four Species are ready before Yom Tov.