From the Rabbi:

As yo umay have noticed, this year our Etrogim have no protruding pitom. Nevertheless, they are 100% Kosher and can be used and made brachot over.

There are several kinds of etrogim which are all kosher for use in the mitzvah. They are regional subspecies of the same fruit. In Yemen, the etrogim are significantly larger and are closer in size to an NFL football. In South America there is even a subspecies which has fingers and looks like an octopus, but is still considered kosher for a Bracha. The ones that we Ashkenazim are used to that have a Pitom are the kind that grew in Italy and Greece. For countless generations, European Jews counted on these etrogim and therefore are accustomed to a pitom. Sefardic Jews in Iraq, Turkey and throughout the middle east had access to a slightly different subspecies which has an 'internal pitom'. So really, the difference between what we're used to and what we got this year is just an "innie" or "outie" Etrog.

In General, use of a Sefardic ritual object such as a Sefer Torah or Tefillin made according to Sefardic custom is perfectly acceptable, although perhaps not as comfortable as doing it "like Zayde". However an Ashkenazi minyan may certainly read from a Sefardic Sefer Torah, put on Sefardic Tefillin or partcipate in a Sefardic minyan. This case is even less of a halachic issue since the different subtypes of Etrog are equally acceptable.

In getting Etrogim from Eretz Israel (which ours are!) it's understandable that we got Sefardic ones. We all know that in Israel you can get Felafel on the street and not bagels and Gefilte Fish. So I hope using these Etrogim from Israel at least helps you feel connected to The Holy Land.

Nevertheless, I recognize that it may be a little strange for some people to use Sefardic Etrogim this year. For that I apologize and next year will try to get more neurotic, repressed and traumatized (Ashkenazi) etrogim. In the meantime, enjoy the cross-cultural experience and may the coming year be one in which coming out of our comfort zones may be a sweet experience of expansion.

Chag Sameach,

Reb Shlomo