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Terebinth, Lycium,

or Mandrake

Ruchama Alter

inety-two percent! That is the Olives and grapes were extremely import- was worth its weight in gold and exported
estimated percentage of Jews ant fruits. When one blessed the farmer, to nobility in Egypt and Greece. The reve-
who were farmers in Mishnaic these two crops were mentioned alongside nue from the persimmon paid for Herod’s
Nand Talmudic times. They, wheat (Bava Metzia 107). Olives provided enormous construction projects, and
unlike us, would have immediately known much more than food. Olive oil was used later made Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi one of
which vegetation the title of this article is as a preservative, cosmetic and a source the richest men in Israel. For a long time,
referring to. of light. The gefet, leftover seeds and the identity of this tree and the perfume
skin, created fuel that not only burned
Aside from their historical significance, but produced steam that increased the making process was a mystery. Today,
Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are tied heat. Chazal ruled that one may not place some scientists and farmers believe they
to agricultural seasons. Pesach is Chag a pot in gefet even before Shabbat, for gefet have rediscovered this treasure. You can
HaAviv – holiday of the early unripe may cause the food to cook (Tosafot, Shab- visit a persimmon farm on the northern
wheat. Shavuot is described as Chag bat 48). Grapes were important for their shore of the Dead Sea.
HaBikkurim, holiday of the first fruit and nutritional value, but primarily for the Though we often lump shepherding Earn a Degree Designed
the celebration of a successful farming production of wine. Used for kiddush and together with farming, sheep were con-
season. Sukkot is Chag HaAsif, the time of havdalah, wine, water and beer were the sidered a hazard in ancient times and were in Partnership with
the gathering crops before winter sets in. only drinks available at the time. not permitted to enter lush farming areas.
Our yearly cycle revolves around agricul- Their terrain was mostly the semi-desert Bar-Ilan University
ture, and our lunar calendar is designed Dates grown in the Jordan Valley were in the Judean Hills and the area south of
to ensure the holidays occur during the famous worldwide. Appreciated during Chevron. These were dangerous border
proper agricultural season. the First Temple period, the Jews return- and Tel Aviv University
ing to Israel from Babylonia realized the areas often invaded by nomads, and
Our appreciation for farming has potential of this fruit and renewed date guards were needed to protect the herds.
increased during the war as most farms farming on a larger scale than before. David provided this service to the flocks
are left without workers. When we volun- They found types that were easier to dry of Naval (Shmuel I, 25). Prepare for personal and professional
teer to help farmers harvest or plant their and which could be preserved locally or Though many of these details seem exotic success through the new Yeshiva University
crops we acquire a better understanding exported. This trend continued in Greek to us, agriculture was our forefathers daily
of the arduous work it requires. Under- and Roman times. Theophrastus, a col- reality. Chazal, with their deep understand- in Israel Undergraduate Program!
standing the agricultural milieu of our league of Aristotle, tells of 11cm dates that
forefathers now has greater meaning for grew in Israel (as opposed to 4cm today), ing of farming trends and needs, provide Combine world-class Torah studies with elite academics
us. What were their main crops, and in and Pliny the Elder (1st Century CE) com- us with multiple insights into this world. and tap into Israel’s innovation hub while experiencing
what regions did these crops grow? ments on the sweet dates grown in this The Mishnaic Seder of Zera’im could only vibrant student life on scenic Jerusalem campuses:
region. be created in Israel, where the people and
Since bread constituted our forefathers’ the land were in harmony.
primary food, growing wheat was most Figs and pomegranates, the last of the >> Men’s Torah studies and programming
important. Wheat fields spread through- seven species, were important but not to at the Gruss Institute of YU in Israel
out the lowlands (shfelah) from the area the same degree. Figs grew in outlying
south of Chevron and northward. South of areas and were mostly dried for self use. >> Women’s Torah studies and programming
that, where the semi-desert begins, barley Pomegranates were grown primarily near at the Chorev campus
was the dominant crop, as it can thrive in Shechem. Pomegranate seeds, like grapes,
less nurturing conditions. Barley was con- were preserved and could last several
sidered inferior to wheat as demonstrated months, supplementing the daily diet far
in the halachic position of Rabbi Yishmael, beyond their growing season.
whose beit midrash was in Kfar Aziz, south The persimmon, the wonder fruit of the Ruchama Alter Launching Fall 2024 yu.edu/YUI
of Chevron. He ruled that alimony paid to world, grew around Yericho and Ein Gedi. is a tour guide and lecturer in Jerusalem
a wife is to consist of double the amount of The sap of this tree was mixed with and and abroad. She completed her graduate
barley to that of wheat (Mishnah, Ketubot preserved in olive oil as soon as it was col- studies in Bible and Jewish Studies
5:8). lected to create an exquisite perfume that at the University of Toronto.

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