Daf Yomi - Sukkah 35 - Esrog Joining the Lulav

The Gemora offers several reasons as to why l’chatchila one should not use an esrog of terumah for the mitzvah. One of the reasons given is because it will make it susceptible to become tamei. Rashi explains this based on a Mishna later which states that the wife takes the lulav from the husband and can return it to water on Shabbos. This would be done in order that it shouldn’t become dry. Subsequently when the water will touch the esrog, it will now be susceptible to become tamei. Tosfos states that the water might drip onto the esrog.

Rav Elyashiv understands this to be an argument between Rashi and Tosfos. Rashi holds that the esrog will certainly become wet and Tosfos maintains that it is a possibility that might occur but it is not a certainty.

This argument can be based on an argument in Shulchan Aruch 651:11 if one is required to have the esrog touch the lulav during the shaking of the lulav. Rashi maintains that in order to fulfill the obligation of shaking the lulav, the esrog must be touching the lulav and therefore it is a certainty that the esrog will become wet. Tosfos would hold that it is not required to do so and thereby it is only a possibility that the esrog will become wet.

See before where we discussed the reason behind the joining of the esrog to the lulav.