Chazon Ish (Halpern)
The Chazon Ish saw another Esrog and told its owner to plant its seeds. This gave rise to the Halpern strain. It is unclear as to what difference was implied betweeen the Chazon Ish’s remark “This is an Esrog” for the Lefkowitz Esrog (see below) and his instruction to plant what became the Halpern Esrog.

Chazon Ish (Lefkowitz)
The Chazon Ish once saw a certain Esrog and pronounced “This is an Esrog”. The seeds from that Esrog were planted by the RAMI (Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz) and have given rise to the Lefkowitz type.

Temani (Yemenite)
Grown from Esrogim or trees imported by Yemenite Jews.

Yanaver
Yanaver Esrogim derive their name from Genoa, the port in northern Italy through which most Italian esrogim were once shipped. The esrogim actually grow in the southern part of Italy in Calabria. There are only a few kosher Esrog orchards left in S. Italy, the other orchards are devoted to production of citrons for culinary use. This variety is favored by many Chasidim, especially Chabad (Lubavitch), based on a Midrash, that Moses was transported from Sinai to Italy to see exactly what a “fruit of the goodly tree” was. Chabad have cultivated a variety of this Esrog in Israel – called “Kfar Chabad”.

Moroccan
Moroccan esrogim grow wild in the mountains of western Morocco. They have a characteristic shape shown above against the backdrop of a book by one of the foremost experts on the Moroccan Esrog – Rabbi Yasher Levy, whose beautifully illustrated book (Hebrew and French) can be ordered from our site. Moroccan esrogim are favored by many Sephardim.

If you leave the esrog long enough, the seeds will start to germinate while still inside the fruit. This particular esrog was a Greek esrog from the Skverer Rebbe. 

If you leave the esrog long enough, the seeds will start to germinate while still inside the fruit. This particular esrog was a Greek esrog from the Skverer Rebbe. 

If you leave the esrog long enough, the seeds will start to germinate while still inside the fruit. This particular esrog was a Greek esrog from the Skverer Rebbe. 

You will need:

• 3 Zaide Reuven’s Esrogim
• 3 cups vodka
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (can use brown sugar instead)

Remove zest / rind (yellow outer layer) and place this in a quart jar. Keep the white peel for candied esrog.

Add two cups of vodka and close lid tightly. Store in a cool dark place (eg refrigerator) for at least two days, more usually 7 – 30 days. Add the sugar. Shake until dissolved. Add remaining vodka and stir until clear. Close jar and store in a cool dark place for 6 weeks. Filter through cheesecloth to clarify.

Store in a Zaide Reuven’s Schnapps Decanter

It Is Really Fast
Take some willow stems and cut them into 3-6” lengths. Place them, the correct way up, in a jar of fresh water, about two inches deep. Do not worry if the leaves fall off. Watch the stems for 1-2 weeks and you will see roots beginning to form. When the roots are 1-2” long plant each stem in its own pot – about 2 to 4” size with potting soil. Keep very moist. After 2-3 weeks transfer them to a larger pot, or, if before it gets frosty, you can plant them in a sunny location away from water pipes. It is a hiddur to plant them near a stream as the Torah calls them “arvei nahal” (willow of the brook).

It Is Really Fast
Take some willow stems and cut them into 3-6” lengths. Place them, the correct way up, in a jar of fresh water, about two inches deep. Do not worry if the leaves fall off. Watch the stems for 1-2 weeks and you will see roots beginning to form. When the roots are 1-2” long plant each stem in its own pot – about 2 to 4” size with potting soil. Keep very moist. After 2-3 weeks transfer them to a larger pot, or, if before it gets frosty, you can plant them in a sunny location away from water pipes. It is a hiddur to plant them near a stream as the Torah calls them “arvei nahal” (willow of the brook).