THE OLIVE TREE & THE JEWISH PEOPLE

MY ISRAEL:

THE OLIVE TREE & THE JEWISH PEOPLE:

Numerous biblical and Talmudic references allude to the connection between the Jewish people and the Olive tree. Giver of a life giving substance, namely oil, & one of the 7 species associated with the Land of Israel. The others being wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates & dates, their first fruits being the only acceptable plant offerings in the Temple.

As a SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE, the Olive tree is unsurpassed. In ancient times, a cylindrical millstone crushed the harvested olives. The resultant paste was then placed in weaved baskets that were stacked one on top of the other and placed over a collecting vat. The contents were compressed using stone weights. The olives underwent 3 pressings. The first was of the best quality & referred to as extra virgin olive oil. This pressing was for Temple & anointing purposes only. The second pressing was for food, cooking, medicinal use, cosmetics and perfumes. The third and final pressing supplied fuel for oil lamps & the ingredients for the manufacture of soap.

Trees over a thousand years of age are still able to produce fruit. The divine hand gave the Olive tree two types of root systems. During the first few years of the trees life the roots develop vertically thereby anchoring the tree firmly to the earth & enabling the roots to go in search for a water source deep below the surface. As the tree develops the vertical roots are replaced by a horizontal root system located just below the surface that fan out in all directions. The shallow wide spreading roots collect water from fast drying topsoil thereby enabling the trees to survive droughts, thrive in semi-arid desert climates & prevent soil erosion. The evolvement of the root system is however dependent on the nature of the soil, thus enabling the tree to adapt to different types of soil. In addition, Olive trees are able to withstand the cold.

Even after the destruction of a mature Olive tree the roots are able to create new shoots and consequently new life. The fruit contains oil, rich in vitamin A. Vitamin A protects the eyes from night blindness and age related decline. Lowers the risk of certain cancers and supports the immune system. Promotes healthy growth & reproduction, is supportive of bone health & reduces the risk of acne. Above all, very few foods rival the taste of a good Olive oil.

Utilized as a SYMBOL OF SANCTITY as evidenced by its produce being used for anointing purposes. The primary objective of anointing was to sanctify a person or an object as being holy. In Judaism, kings, priests, prophets & articles of the Tabernacle underwent anointing. Examples being the anointing of Saul as recorded in 1 Samuel 10:1 & the anointing of David as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:13.

Many of the Israel Defense Forces insignias contain a sword wrapped in an Olive branch. The Olive branch, both a SYMBOL OF HOPE & a SYMBOL OF PEACE wraps around the sword, a symbol of war, alluding to the hope that peace will triumph over war.

Couples have on their wedding day, crowned themselves with Olive wreaths as a SYMBOL OF LOVE.

Not the oldest but perhaps the most famous Olive trees are those of Gat Shemanim in Jerusalem. Gat Shemanim means olive press in Hebrew & pronounced Gethsemane in English. According to the Christian narrative the location of Jesus’s arrest by the Romans. Carbon dating of three of the eight trees showed them to be 1092, 1166 & 1198 years old, however, their roots may be even older than this. DNA results revealed that the three trees probably originated from the same parent plant. The remaining five trees were not analyzed as they have become so gnarled that their trunks have hollowed out, leaving only younger plant material.

Ron Traub : (Tour Guide & Architect). Website: rontraub-tours.com Photo’s : Rimonah Traub Photo’s : Military insignias by Wikipedia