| Shiv’at HaMinim – Seven Species – How?
In this week’s Parashah, Eikev, we read about those famous and familiar seven species – “a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey.” (Deut. 8:8) While many of us enjoy these mostly imported delights, our connection with the concept of the agricultural wealth of Biblical Israel is, of course, a collective romantic recollection. Unless we have spent any serious time in Israel and travelled the land with Tanakh in hand, observing archaeological remains or, better yet, seen the ongoing use of ancient methods still utilized throughout the West Bank / Judea and Samaria for cultivation and irrigation of olives and vines, among other fruits and vegetables, it is unlikely that we can reach any genuine understanding of the fundamental importance of these crops for our ancestors.
Yes, we do our best at a Seder Tu Bishvat to identify with the seasons and harvesting in Israel, but that is an annual ritual and ceremony, without the daily appreciation for what that land provides.
Beyond this worthwhile attempt, another way to possibly grasp the power of this connection with the land is to explore it locally. We might seek inspiration from Indigenous communities in North America who focus on the Three Sisters – Squash, Corn, and Beans – as the agricultural staples of their societies for centuries. We briefly consider the bounty available to us on Thanksgiving, and somewhat on Sukkot, but this is often limited to hanging gourds from the Schach or preparing a pumpkin for Halloween.
Most of us are so distant from any real relationship with the land, although I know of several of our members who take their gardens quite seriously. Why not make a commitment this coming year to grow produce yourself? And if that is not possible, take the occasional trip out to the country – as distant as it has become in recent decades – and visit a farm. Speak with those whose livelihood comes from what they can garner from the soil.
We may not be able to pick pomegranates, figs, or olives in Ontario, but experiencing the joy that comes from growing your own food, together with the toil, or seeing it on the faces of those who do, might help us better understand the centrality of those seven species in our tradition and our relationship with the Land of Israel.
B’tei’avon!
Shabbat Shalom,
Michael Rubin
mrubin@bethdavid.com |
