Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 646

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 646 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1The Laws of the Hadas (Myrtle), 11 Seifim: If the myrtle's head is severed, it is valid. If most of its leaves fell off but three remain on one stem, it is valid.
2. 2If its berries outnumbered its leaves and they are green, it is valid. If they are red or black, it is invalid. If their numbers were diminished, it is valid, though we do not diminish them on Yom Tov because it is considered fixing. If one sinned and picked [the berries] or one picked them off one a time to eat them, it is valid. And after the first day, they are valid in any event (Beit Yosef in the name of the Orkhot Hayyim) .
3. 3"Boughs of a dense-leaved tree" [Leviticus 23:40] talked about in the Torah are myrtle whose leaves cover its tree, with three or more leaves from one node. However, if there are two leaves at the same level, one opposite the other, and a third one above them, this is not considered dense; rather, it is considered wild myrtle. Rema: And it is valid, even in an emergency. There is an opinion in the Gemara that it is valid. That is why in these countries, we initially use these myrtles that are imported and do not have three leaves from one node. There is one who says that our myrtles are not considered wild myrtle because they are two by two and are not like the wild myrtle in the Gemara. Therefore, our practice is to be lenient, following what was written by Mahari"i Kolon and Mahar"i Iserlin z"l in their responsa.
4. 4If there were many [leaves] from one node and they fell off leaving only three in one node, it is kosher, even if the majority fell off, like if there were seven and four fell off.
5. 5For the mitzvah, we require the whole length of the myrtle to be dense. In order to hinder fulfilling the obligation, a majority suffices (even if it is not at the top) (Tur) .
6. 6If they completely dry out, they are invalid. If they are slightly dried, they are valid.
7. 7Regarding the criterion for dryness, even if they can be disintegrated by a fingernail, as long as they are still green they are kosher. They are not considered dry, just whitened.
8. 8If most of its leaves dried out, but there remains on each of the three branches a stem with three non-dry leaves, it is valid. Some say that if among the three on one stem two dried out and there is only one non-dry leaf, it is valid, provided that the leaf is above the other two.
9. 9If the leaves that did not dry out are semi-dry, some say they are invalid and some say valid.
10. 10If its top is severed it is valid even if no berry grew in its place. The same is true if its top is dried. Some invalidate the severed top. RAMA: It is best to be stringent in places where you can get another (the Maggid). It is not considered severed unless the wood is cut (Ra"n).
11. 11If one only has myrtle whose berries outnumber its leaves, one should take it on Yom Tov and not bless on it.

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