7 Species are Significant - KiTavo

"A land of wheat, and barley, and vines; of fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey."

Seven Species Print by Sharon Binder

Noted in KiTavo parsha (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8) - The 7 species have significance ....
They were the staples in Biblical times and still make up the major crops of Israel today. You see the 7 species decorating many ritual objects as well as Judaic art of all types

Olives: More than any other fruit, the olive symbolizes this continuity in the country and the olive branch still is a symbol of peace.

Grapes: The fruit of the vine and wine has always been an integral part of the rituals of Judaism, as in the "kiddush" blessing on Sabbath and holidays. In ancient times, grapes were also used for seasoning and in vinegars.

Wheat: The harvest that begins during the festival of Shavuot is a tribute to wheat and bread. In biblical times as today, bread was the staple of the local diet.

Barley: In biblical times barley was the poor-man’s staple - eaten as porridge and barley cakes. Cattle and other livestock were also fed barley. Barley’s most common modern use in Israel is as the basic ingredient for beer, sold locally in bottles and cans and served in pubs from the barrel.

Figs: The fig tree — with its distinctive leaves, used as clothes by Adam and Eve - is a ubiquitous part of the Israeli landscape. In biblical times the fig was eaten fresh or as a seasoning, in addition to being used to make honey and alcohol.

Dates: Date palms are only found in the hotter inland rift valley. In biblical times they grew in the Jordan Valley and were made into honey, and many believe the notion of the "land flowing with milk and honey" actually referred to date honey.

Pomegranates: Pomegranate trees are prevalent in Israeli gardens. The tree with its rich green leaves and red flowers becomes heavy with fruit for Rosh Hashanah (New Year) The plump red fruits are often plucked to decorate the succa during the feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles). In biblical times the pomegranate was used for making wine and seasonings in addition to its function as a dye. Then, too, it was appreciated for its aesthetic qualities, particularly the crown near the stem. Tradition has it that a pomegranate has 613 seeds to represent the 613 commandments in the Torah (five books of Moses). Pomegranate is traditionally eaten on the New Year and have been credited with having many healing qualities.