A brief history of the Moroccan Etrog

Moroccan esrogim are known for their outstanding and singular charm, their pleasing and symmetrical shape, beautiful colour and the sturdy pitam – its crowning glory. As the Aruch La'Ner testified, “The Moroccan esrog is mehudar with every hiddur.”

Moroccan esrogim have a very strong mesorah and have been used for generations.

The Yishre Lev (the Rishon L’Tziyon, Rabbi Chayim David Chazan זצ”ל from Izmir, 1790-1869) cites three of the greatest Chachamim of Morocco who testified that the tradition of the Moroccan esrogim is undisputable and that they were the type that everyone used throughout their lands.

In 1995, a delegation of rabbis was sent by Rav Elyashiv זצ”ל to confirm the chezkas kashrus of the esrogim grown in the Atlas mountain region of Morocco. Led by renowned professor Eliezer E. Goldschmidt they travelled about 100 kilometres east of Agadir in southern Morocco, near the Taroudant Province, to the lush and fertile acres of land known as Damder.

They examined as many trees as possible in various plots, and were impressed by the old tradition that is practiced there to this very day. Not one grafted esrog was found, with Rav Elyashiv זצ”ל satisfied that the lineage remained unbroken.

Many more Acharonim tout the authenticity of the Moroccan esrogim. For example, Rav Moshe Shternbuch שליט”א writes that the Brisker Rav, Rav Yitchak Ze’ev Soloveitchik זצ”ל, would use a Moroccan esrog.

Rav Shmuel Auerbach זצ”ל was known to use the Moroccan esrog. The son of Rav Shlomo Kluger זצ”ל attested that his father would bless over the Moroccan esrog. The Baba Sali זצ”ל was very meticulous throughout his life, even when he lived in Eretz Yisroel, to bless only over the Moroccan esrogim, and a great deal of effort went into obtaining them. 

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All esrogim of Moroccan origin are under the hechsher of the Hisachdus HaRabbonim DeArtzos HaBris VeCanada (CRC).