{"id":11051,"date":"2001-01-04T00:11:20","date_gmt":"2001-01-03T22:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=11051"},"modified":"2022-09-14T13:09:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T10:09:32","slug":"13-04-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/13-04-11\/","title":{"rendered":"11. Deficiency and Stains"},"content":{"rendered":"
An etrog<\/em> that was pierced and is missing a piece (\u1e25aser<\/em>, deficient) is invalid for use on the first Yom Tov, as the etrog<\/em> used then must be whole, as it is written: \u201cOn the first day you shall take (u-leka\u1e25tem<\/em>)\u201d (Vayikra 23:40). Our Sages expound: \u201cleka\u1e25tem<\/em>\u201d means \u201cleki\u1e25a tama<\/em>\u201d \u2013 something whole must be taken. However, during the rest of the festival, even if part of the etrog<\/em> is missing, it is kosher. Even on the first Yom Tov, if the etrog <\/em>was damaged by a thorn, and it is uncertain whether the etrog<\/em> is missing a part, the etrog<\/em> is kosher. Additionally, even if it is clear that the etrog<\/em> was missing a piece, but it continued to grow and the site of the damage scabbed over, the etrog<\/em> is kosher for the first Yom Tov (SA 648:2; Har\u1e25avot<\/em> 4:11:1-4).<\/p>\n If a \u1e25azazit<\/em> \u2013 a sort of festering lesion \u2013 is found on the etrog<\/em> and cannot be peeled off without removing some of the etrog<\/em>\u2019s flesh, then if the \u1e25azazit <\/em>covers most of the etrog<\/em>, it is invalid. Similarly, if a \u1e25azazit<\/em> was found in two or three places that are spread out over most of the etrog<\/em>, even if the \u1e25azazit<\/em>, in the aggregate, does not cover most of the etrog<\/em>, the etrog<\/em> is invalid since it looks spotted. If the \u1e25azazit<\/em> appears on the nose \u2013 the sloping upper part \u2013 of the etrog<\/em>, even if it is small, if it stands out to a cursory glance, the etrog<\/em> is invalid. A black, white, or strange-colored stain has the same status as a \u1e25azazit<\/em> (SA 648:9-13, 16). These lesions and stains are very rare, as only anomalies invalidate the four species.[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Common yellow, gray, and brown stains (bletlekh<\/em>) do not invalidate the etrog<\/em>, as they are normal for etrogim<\/em>. These stains are generally caused by the etrog<\/em>\u2019s contact with leaves and branches, which lightly scratch it. The scratch causes the discharge of a liquid that forms a crust on the outside of the etrog<\/em>. If these stains protrude and cannot be removed without taking off some of the flesh of the etrog<\/em>, some people avoid using this etrog <\/em>except in pressing circumstances (MB 648:50, 53). However, in practice, even if the stains protrude and cannot be scraped off, they do not invalidate the etrog<\/em>, since they are commonly found on etrogim<\/em>. Nevertheless, the more stains an etrog<\/em> has, the less beautiful and mehudar <\/em>it is.<\/p>\n It should be noted that after an etrog<\/em> is picked, if it absorbs a light blow, there is concern that it will be damaged and discharge some clear liquid that will form a brown stain on the site. Though this stain does not invalidate the etrog<\/em>, it does impair its beauty. For this reason, people generally wrap their etrog<\/em> in flax or styrofoam mesh. If an etrog<\/em> absorbs a blow, the discharged liquid should be rinsed off so that no stain forms.<\/p>\n