On Sukkot, Jews around the world gather the Four Species to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the land. This resource offers an Ethiopian take on that tradition, swapping in four plants that grow in and feed Ethiopian communities: date leaf, pepper, peas, and corn.
Each plant connects to daily life, food, and the agricultural rhythms of Ethiopia. Together they invite learners to think about what a harvest festival means when it's rooted in a different landscape, and how Jewish communities have always shaped their traditions around the places they call home.
Using this in the classroom:
The Four Species: Ethiopia
This card works well as a discussion opener before or during Sukkot. Educators can place it side by side with the traditional lulav, etrog, hadas, and aravah and ask students to compare: What does each set of plants say about the land it comes from? Why might a community choose the plants closest to their own table? Students can also design their own Four Species based on where they or their families live, which makes for a meaningful conversation about heritage, migration, and belonging.
The resource is suitable for day schools, supplementary programs, family learning, and community events, and it pairs naturally with broader lessons on Ethiopian Jewish history and culture.