Our Species

Oak

Nearly everywhere in the world, the oak tree has been revered since long before we learned to write. Drawings of these magnificent trees have been found etched into cave walls tens of thousands of years old and they have been understood as vital and fundamental to the sustenance of many ecosystems, dwarfing the impact of many other species.

Their sheer size and beauty symbolize the strength and permanence of our people and our commitment to the land. Sadly, though not unexpectedly, the Ottomans spent hundreds of years tearing the great oaks from the land for their charcoal production, leaving nothing behind but dead soil across massive swaths of Israel. From the beginning of the Arab conquests of the seventh century to the end of the Ottoman empire more than a thousand years later, many of the Jews of Israel were forced to pay taxes in the form of oak trees from their land.

Terebinth

The terebinth has a special significance in the history of Judea and Samaria stretching back long before human habitation. It was of particular interest to Abraham, showing up more than any other piece of nature in his adventures. In more modern times, it has been a symbol of awareness of the land, symbolizing the wisdom of history passed down from generation to generation as our roots have become deeper and deeper. After the exodus from Egypt, the terebinths of Israel welcomed us home, visible for days on the horizon and giving us shade.

Olive

Olives are one of the most-familiar biblical symbols representing the perseverance and strength of a people who has always had to fight to survive. Specifically adapted to grow and thrive in the rocky soil common to much of Israel where most other trees quickly fail, their roots can even grow through rocks, breaking them apart to plunge deeper into the soil for nutrients. They are known for their long lives and ability to grow, even when neglected and through droughts. Sadly, they have often been the target of western fads, quickly grown and cut down as a source of profit. But olive trees, whose wood and fruit are not just valuable but sacred, if properly cared for, continue to provide for generations and bring nature and revitalization to much of the land. 

Carob

"The carob is a symbol of altruism in Judaism. The famous Talmudic story of a sage called Honi and the carob tree illustrates the point. One day, Honi was walking on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi asked the man, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit? The man replied, “Seventy years.”

Honi then asked the man, “And do you think you will live another seventy years and eat the fruit of this tree?” The man answered, “Perhaps not. However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.” (Taanit, 23a)

Tamarisk

Also known as the "salt cedar", the tamarisk is an ancient medicinal tree native to much of the middle east, from Israel to Mesopotamia. Its leaves were harvested to relieve fever and heal the wounds of battle and even treat siege sickness. The tamarisk never loses its green and provides shelter and shade all year, protecting the land and allowing it to keep its moisture. They often survive through intense droughts and are even harvested for food.

Pomegranate

"The pomegranate is a common motif in Jewish culture. In Exodus (28:33), the priestly garments described as being adorned with pomegranates: “On its hem make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the hem, with bells of gold between them all around.” In Song of Songs, the pomegranate is used to describe various aspects of the beloved. “Your temple behind your veil [Gleams] like a pomegranate split open. The pomegranate is associated with abundance, prosperity, and righteousness. It is said that the pomegranate contains 613 seeds corresponding to the 613 commandments of the Jewish law. We offer several species of indigenous pomegranates with which King Solomon would have been familiar!

Fig

"The fig tree is the first tree to be mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 3:7), when Adam and Eve cover their nakedness with fig leaves. In the book of Micha (4:4), the imagery of every man sitting under their own vine and fig tree conveys prosperity and peace. George Washington was so fond of this agrarian vision of liberty that he quoted this passage from Micha no less than fifty times in his Correspondence. We offer several species of figs native to the Land of Israel.

Grape

Grape vines have been cultivated in Israel for thousands of years and we are proud to be planting varietals verified to date from even before the First Temple. While some grapes were consumed during Islamic rule, most of the grape cultivation was stopped for more than a thousand years as wine was prohibited. Only in the last seventy-five years have we been able to resurrect this ancient tradition and bring so many of the vines back to life, restoring our connection to the wines drunk by our ancestors, even the familiar names from history. King David, King Solomon, Moses and Isaiah spoke of wine and it was the grape wine of Israel that sustained people through the water-borne diseases that ravaged many neighboring cultures. Our grapes and wine are some of our most widely-recognized traditions from our land.