[Avodah] Re lulav waving

[D&E-H Bannett]

Re: the comments on-list on the order, timing, and 
directions of the na'anu'im during hallel.

Methinks, as an elder, it is appropriate for me to remind 
the list members of the old way to wave the four minim 
during hallel.

The siddurim of the geonim,R' Amram and R' Sa'adia and 
slightly later of R' Shlomo ben Natan all give the same 
instructions.   While saying the words Hodu and Ana the 
lulav is moved forward and then back.  While saying the 
words laShem and Hashem the lulav is moved upwards and then 
downwards.

There are no six directions and no three times.  And, quite 
obviously, the rule of not waving while saying the Shem 
could not have existed.

I am told that the Meiri states in Magen Avot, p. 150, that 
"Rabbenu Sa'adia Gaon said that the custom is to mitkaven to 
raise the lulav up on hazkarat Hashem of Hodu LaShem and Ana 
Hashem and, while he gemara on Sukkot 37b says molikh umevi 
l'mi she'arba ruchut shelo, this doesn't mean that the lulav 
should be moved and shaken to the four ruchot. And even the 
geonim write that he who does so is following a "da'at 
chitzoni."

I believe I wrote about this on-list some time ago when, for 
the first time in my life, I saw someone wave in accordance 
with the da'at hageonim.


David