Page 35 - Jewish News_November-2020

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD November 2020 35A

Scientists grow fresh dates Scientists grow fresh dates...continued from page 34A
the Judean date – that’s my name for
to a species that grew in Babylon –
from a sixth century BCE seed present-day Iraq. it – into modern agriculture. Perhaps
they have important medicinal and
“Domesticating the date palm for
Grown from ancient seeds found at Masada and Qumran and likely cultivation started around 6,000 years nutritional traits that were bred out of
ago in Babylon and in the Arabian Pen-
modern dates. Dates in ancient times
brought back to Judea from Babylon in the sixth century BCE, insula,” Sallon explains. here were one of the biggest sources of
the fresh dates symbolize the remarkable resilience of nature. “Methuselah and Adam, from Ma- revenue. It would be nice to bring back
sada, are very Arabian-like and are from extinction this ancient variety
more than 2,000 years old. Hannah that is producing very nice dates and
Sallon tells ISRAEL21c. is more Iraqi. We presume she was reintroduce them to the market.”
She and Solowey collected and brought by the exiles coming back af- Sallon also hopes to raise money
tested many kinds of plants, and ter the First Temple was destroyed, be- to publish The Date’s Tale, a children’s
Solowey grew them at the Arava Insti- cause the Talmud tells us that Judean story she wrote “from the point of view
tute. exiles worked in date plantations in of the Methuselah himself going to
Then, Sallon was given date seeds Babylon.” sleep at Masada and waking up in a lab
discovered during Yigael Yadin’s Date cultivation in ancient Judea 2,000 years later.” Jane Goodall wrote
famed digs on Masada in the mid- was well established by around 300 the introduction.
1960s and kept in storage for more BCE. Uriel, Boaz and Jonah are from Abigail Klein Leichman is a writer and Though we are physically distancing ourselves for the health &
than 40 years, plus 200 CE, found in caves where Judeans associate editor at ISRAEL21c. Prior safety of all of us, we are continuing to find ways to socially &
date seeds found at took refuge from the Romans. to moving to Israel in 2007, she was emotionally connect, grow and celebrate. Please refer to Temple
Qumran by Prof. Jo- “They are more Western, like dates a specialty writer and copy editor at Sinai's website and Facebook pages for a vast array of events
seph Patrich of the from North Africa, probably because a major daily newspaper in New Jer- delivered right to your home!
Institute of Archae- the Romans primed those males to pol- sey and has freelanced for a variety
ology at Hebrew linate the Eastern palms,” says Sallon. of newspapers and periodicals since
University. “The idea now is to reintroduce 1984.
“Prof. Patrich let
me choose whatever
I wanted. I chose the A tour for the forever
best seeds I could
find, in extraordi- young at heart and mind
narily good condi-
tion,” says Sallon. A life-changing excursion to Israel
“I gave some to Elaine and lo and
behold, up came Methuselah,” named you don’t want to miss #InnovativeReform
for the oldest-living human in the Bi- By Matt Bernstein, CFP, JNF Chief Planned Giving Officer
ble. hirty strangers from the U.S. museum), where the group formed a 4631 South Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231
Methuselah, grown from a seed met in Tel Aviv on a Sunday bond while partaking in an emotion- (Enter off of Proctor Rd.)
radiocarbon-dated to the first century Tevening last November. Many al journey to better understand this 941-924-1802
CE, was the oldest seed ever grown were first-time travelers to Israel with tragic period of our collective Jewish www.SinaiSRQ.org Office@SinaiSRQ.org
into a living plant, and was the sub- little connection to Jewish National history. www.facebook.com/templesinaisarasota
ject of papers published in the journal Fund. Others had visited many times We visited the Galilee and learned
Science in 2008 and 2009. before; years had passed since their about Jewish National Fund’s Go
Six of the 32 additional seeds last trip. The reasons for their visit var- North initiative that is growing region-
chosen by Sallon sprouted under ied, but the common denominator was al tourism and providing new econom-
Solowey’s care. They were warmed clear: to reconnect with their childhood ic opportunities in the north.
and hydrated slowly and gradually, memories, Judaism and Israel. Jewish In the Negev, we saw the effect
fed a growth-promoting plant hor- National Fund’s 10-day Sunshine Tour JNF’s contributions are having on
mone and an enzyme fertilizer. They provides that opportunity, and most of the revitalization of Be’er Sheva, the P R E S E N T S
grew into healthy date palms dubbed the participants characterized the trip crown jewel of JNF’s Blueprint Negev
Adam, Hannah, Judith, Jonah, Boaz as “life-changing.” initiative. We also visited JNF’s Sderot JUST reel education
and Uriel. Jewish National Fund’s Sunshine Indoor Recreation Center, a signature
Last February, a paper published Tour is unique in that it is designed for JNF project, designed to provide a BLACK HONEY: THE LIFE AND POETRY OF AVRAHAM SUTZKEVER
about the germination of the seeds in people ages 55+ who lead active lives safe playing environment for children Avraham Sutzkever is, by many accounts, the greatest Yiddish writer
Science Advances, led to hundreds of and offers more time to explore and ex- against rockets from Gaza. of modern times. Black Honey uncovers this extraordinary life
inquiries, says Sallon. perience Israel. We went back to Jerusalem and through Sutzkever’s poetry and revealing how, amidst the darkest
In early 2019, Adam, Jonah and Our trip started in Tel Aviv, the welcomed Shabbat at the Kotel. After times, his poetry became a life-saving source of vitality
Hannah were moved out of their green- modern metropolis home to Indepen- dinner, we shared our experiences, and and strength. 2018, 76 minutes
house to the Arava Institute’s Daniel dence Hall, the historic location where while many were aware of JNF’s his- Available starting October 30 with a post-film discussion on
Fischel & Sylvia Neil Research & in 1948 David Ben-Gurion announced tory of planting millions of trees, they November 5 at 3 PM with film producer Yair Qedar.
Visitors’ Park. Israel’s establishment as a modern were in awe at Jewish National Fund’s
Nature doesn’t give up state. We visited sites throughout the role in making Israel a strong part of PROSECUTING EVIL: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BEN FORENCZ
“It was so remarkable to bring these city, learning about the pioneering men all our lives. This gripping documentary tells the fascinating story of Ben
trees back from the dead – they were and women who helped build the coun- Join us in 2021 and help Israel’s Ferencz—the last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor and lifelong advocate
really just sleeping,” says Sallon. try. We felt enormous pride in this tiny economic recovery. We have three of “law not war.” He was 27 years old and his first trial was of 22 Nazi
“To see them grow several meters country doing remarkable things. tours planned for 2021: April 18-27, officials tried for murdering over a million people and who were convicted.
high and have babies was a ray of light In Jerusalem, we walked the an- May 2-11 and November 7-16. His fight for justice for victims of atrocity crimes continues today.
at a time like this when people are wor- cient cobblestone alleyways of the For more information, please contact 2018, 83 minutes
ried and depressed. It is a sign of the Old City and met with lone soldiers Joshua Mellits, Western Florida Direc- Available starting November 13 with a Zoom talk back on
remarkable resiliency of nature in the from the United States. We visited Yad tor, at jmellits@jnf.org or 941.462.1330 November 19 at 3 PM with film director Varry Avrich,
face of this terrible destruction of spe- Vashem (Israel’s national Holocaust x865. David Scheffer, Dr. Stephen Smith, Dr. Mary Johnson,
cies. Nature will not give up without a and Dr. Michael Berenbaum.
struggle. That’s a motif for our times.” To register for these films and talk backs, please visit JFEDSRQ.org/events.
And how do Hannah’s dates taste?
“Lovely,” says Sallon. “I find Med- These events are free, but we would appreciate a donation to the Federation’s
joul dates too sticky sweet. Hannah’s Virtual Programming Fund at JFEDSRQ.org/VirtualFund
are blander and drier, with a honey af- BR OUGHT T O Y OU B Y
tertaste that makes me think of the land
of milk and honey.”
The date experts at Kibbutz
Keturah say they taste like the Zahi- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
di species of Iraqi dates. That makes
sense, as Hannah is genetically related

JNF-USA Sunshine Tour participants take in the view overlooking Jerusalem (credit: JNF-USA)