Rabbi Dov Landau Buys Etrog for American Students' Holiday Observance

Rabbi Dov Landau, head of the Slabodka Yeshiva, purchased a particularly fine etrog (citron) from R' Shea'eleh Dickstein, who cultivates etrogs in Morocco. The purchase occurred before the Sukkot holiday, a time when observant Jews use the etrog as part of the "Four Species" ritual.

Landau's meticulousness was evident as he personally inspected the etrog, even having his son examine its quality. He then requested to officially purchase the etrog from Dickstein. This action surprised onlookers, as the first day of Sukkot fell on a Saturday that year, meaning the Torah commandment to take the Four Species was not in effect for the first day in Israel.

Rabbi Landau explained his reasoning: the Slabodka Yeshiva has many students from the United States. These students observe the "second day of the holiday" (Yom Tov Sheni shel Galuyot) outside of Israel. Therefore, for these American students, the commandment to take the Four Species, referred to as "for yourselves" (lechem), was indeed in effect on the first day of Sukkot according to their custom.

Landau's intention was to acquire the etrog so that it would be legally in his possession. This would allow him to then transfer ownership to the American students, enabling them to fulfill the commandment of taking the Four Species, including the etrog, on the second day of the holiday, as per their tradition. R' Shea'eleh Dickstein completed the transaction, and the American students later used the etrog for their holiday observance.