Chazon Ish Etrog

Hebrew: חָזוֹן אִישׁ אֶתְרוֹג, etrog chazon ish
Family: Rutaceae
Scientific name: Citrus medica

The name Chazon Ish etrog refers to several varieties of etrogim that Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, known as the Chazon Ish, maintained were authentic, non-grafted, and suitable for cultivation. He instructed that these etrogim be planted and preserved. Etrog growers later named specific varieties, including the Halperin and Lefkowitz etrogim. These varieties originate from wild etrog trees growing throughout Israel.

The etrog is one of the three natural species of citruses from which all other citruses developed. The other two are pomelo and mandarin.

Citruses have several traits that distinguish them from other fruits:

1. The fruit’s stem is firmly attached to the branch by strong connective tissue, allowing it to remain on the tree for months after ripening. In contrast, for most fruits, the connection between the fruit’s stem and the tree weakens as the fruit ripens—leading to the formation of an abscission layer that causes the fruit to fall to the ground.
2. The fruit has a thick and fleshy peel, allowing it to remain on the tree for an extended period.
3. Citruses can bloom and produce fruit multiple times throughout the year, a characteristic particularly noticeable in the etrog and lemon. The ability to bear fruit multiple times a year is botanically possible because these species can fruit even when climate conditions fluctuate, unlike many other species that require specific temperatures. As a result, it is common to find fruits at various stages of growth on the tree—young fruitlets and fully ripened fruit.

The etrog requires abundant irrigation to develop properly, which is why the Sages defined it as “growing on any water.” That is, it is not dependent on rainfall and can develop fruit as long as it is irrigated properly.

Like many fruit trees, heavy fruit-bearing can weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to disease. Therefore, it is common practice to graft fruit trees onto disease-resistant rootstocks with strong water and nutrient absorption capabilities. However, since the etrog must specifically be used for Sukkot, the general ruling was that it should not be grafted onto a rootstock of a different species. Over the years, posekim have discussed several signs to distinguish between a grafted and a non-grafted etrog. However, it is now generally accepted that these signs are unreliable because grafting does not alter the fruit itself—it only provides water, minerals, and nutrients.