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In preparation for Sukkos, the Dayan R’ Moshe Bransdorfer shlit”a, spent several hours at�the Center for Kehillah Development, teaching the CKD avreichim the practical dos-and-�don’ts for buying mehudar arba minim. R� Bransdorfer is Av Beis Din of Heichal Hora’ah in�Yerushalayim and was meshamesh his father, HaRav Meir Bransdorfer ztz”l, Rav of Kehillas�Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok and a Dayan on the Eidah HaChareidis. With his unique mastery,�Rav Bransdorfer navigated through the halachic complexities, clarified the sugya of hiddur,�presented common consumer errors, and revealed unsavory practices of some retailers to�deceive buyers and justify inflated prices.

Rav Bransdorfer began his presentation, explaining: “Most retailers have already selected for�presentation only arba minim that meet the minimal standards of kashrus. Therefore,�rather than kosher or posul, we should focus on what is considered hiddur. When people�approach the purchase of their arba minim, regardless of whether they have learned the�Gemaras, Rishonim and Achronim, they are nervous and lack confidence in their choices. I�claim that anyone can master the principles of hiddur within a few minutes and pick arba�minim with genuine expertise and confidence.”

Rav Bransdorfer then listed these basic three guidelines:

1. �”Hadar” means the fruit is pretty. That means it has a pitom, its top cone�symmetrically ascends to the pitom, and it has an attractive pattern of indentations�and bumps. If an imaginary straight line flows from the esrog’s base straight up�through the pitom (meaning it is perfectly aligned vertically), then the esrog is�exceptionally beautiful.
2. 2. Dark dots on the esrog that are invisible to the naked eye when viewed from arm’s�length do not detract from the esrog’s beauty at all. You should not examine the�esrog up close to find dark dots, and you certainly should never use any sort of�magnifying glass.
3. A yellow esrog is more beautiful because its color testifies to its ripeness.�Nonetheless, if one must choose between a more yellow hew or a more attractive�pattern of indentations and bumps, the more attractive pattern takes priority.

The video of Rav Bransdorfer’s full presentation to the CKD can be viewed here:

*for more info about the Center for Kehillah Development check out the website:

http://www.c4kd.org