Hayom Yom 14 Tishrei - Binding the Lulav

עֵרוּב תַּבְשִׁילִין [Today] an Eruv Tavshilin is made. [This is required only when Sukkos falls on Thursday and Friday (as in 5704/1943, the year of publication).] אֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל שְׁתֵּי עֲרָבוֹת, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן בַּהֲדַסִים No more than two willow twigs are taken. One may, however, take more than three myrtle twigs. מְהַדְּרִים לֶאֱגוֹד הַלּוּלָב בַּסּוּכָּה וּבְעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב To perform the mitzvah in its optimum manner, one makes a point of binding the lulav [with the hadassim and aravos] in the sukkah on erev Sukkos. עַל הַלּוּלָב שְׁתֵּי כְּרִיכוֹת Two rings [made of leaves of the lulav] are bound around the lulav alone, [higher than the other three rings that will bind the lower ends of the hadassim and aravos to its base]. וּמִשְׁתַּדְּלִים שֶׁשְׁתֵּיהֶם תִּהְיֶינָה מְכוּסוֹת בַּהֲדַסִים וַעֲרָבוֹת One should endeavor to see that these two rings are hidden by the [upper ends of] the hadassim and aravos. גַּם כְּרִיכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בִּמְעַט עַל כָּל פָּנִים Even the upper ring should be at least partly concealed. וּמִלְּבַד זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ כְּרִיכוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם אוֹגֵד הַהֲדַסִים וְהָעֲרָבוֹת עִם הַלּוּלָב In addition to these two rings, the hadassim and aravos are bound to [the base of] the lulav by three rings, שָׁלֹשׁ אֵלּוּ בְּמֶשֶׁךְ טֶפַח אֶחָד which should all be tied within the space of a tefach. Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English