What is "etrog"

Etrog (plural: etrogim, ) is the yellow citron or Citrus medica used by Jewish people during the week-long holiday of Sukkot, as one of the four species. Together with a lulav, hadass and aravah, the etrog is to be taken in each Jewish hand.

Etrog or Esrog is the Hebrew word for the citron fruit or Citrus medica.

• For the Jewish religious rite utilizing the fruit, see Etrog
• For the particular variety of citron bearing this name, see Variety etrog
• Etrog may refer also to the rest of citron varieties which are also employed in the ritual. Some of them are, the Ashkenazic Diamante citron, the Yemenite citron and the Balady citron.

Etrog has become an epithet in the Israeli politics for a politician whom journalists prefer not to criticize in order to pave his way to a certain political position, or in order to promote common interests.

The first use of this metaphor is attributed to the Israeli journalist Amnon Abramovich. In February 2005, during Ariel Sharon's campaign to promote his disengagement plan, Abramovich (who supported the plan) said that Israeli journalists should treat Sharon like an " Etrog": as long as the disengagement plan was not completed they should cherish him and refrain from attacking him, but once the plan was carried out they should treat him like an etrog after the holiday [of Sukkot] is over, i.e. stop protecting him. This metaphor caught on quickly, and today it is not uncommon to use the term as a verb, e.g. "The press etrogs certain ministers" .