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KKL-JNF extends its warmest wishes KKL-JNF Forests: to you and yours with this intro- duction to the world of Israel's trees. May you be blessed with the seeds of good deeds and the sweet A Tree of ISRAEL blossoming of the years. May the fruitful partnerships with KKL-JNF continue to ensure a green and sustainable Israel for all its people. for Every Month
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis 2:8-9
Vital for a healthy planet, trees are as rooted and entwined in the ecosystem as in human culture. From time immemorial trees have been regarded with awe by peoples everywhere. The salient feature of the Garden of Eden is the tree, of which the Bible cites many species and employs as metaphor and symbol for wisdom, the righteous, and for life itself, as in Proverbs 30:11, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…"
In Israel, trees are a treasured component of the environment, second only to water. With the country's warm, dry climate, the tree invites us to take shade under its boughs, enjoy the fragrance of its owers and taste its fruit. Each and every tree is precious, with di erent species coloring the forests in varying hues that change with the seasons. Trees and forests provide food for gazelles and deer, nesting sites for birds, and tranquil- ity and inspiration for people.
KKL-JNF has planted extensive forests throughout the country, with the support of its friends in Israel and worldwide. With the development of new approaches to forestry management, KKL-JNF has focused on diversifying planted forests and caring for the broad-leaved woodlands and orchards characteristic of the region. The results are ourishing forests that serve as the country's green lungs; harmonious environments for plants, animals and humans. Much like a human society, a planted forest requires nurturing and on-going maintenance, which KKL-JNF lovingly provides to ensure that Israel's forests thrive.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 AtlasCed ar 20 erez atlanti). As its name indicates, the Atlas 21) אֶ רֶ ז אַ טְ לַ נְ טִ י 5 cedar originates in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and 6 Morocco. KKL-JNF has used the ornamental tree for 22 a orestation, as have many countries. The silvery- blue needled tree produces distinctive, barrel 7 shaped female cones and the hardy conifer can 23 reach up to forty meters in height, its broad 8 crown towering over the other forest trees. 24 9 25 26 צַדִּיק, כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח; כְּאֶרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשְׂגֶּהׁ. תהילים צב, יג 10 "The righteous shall ourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like 11 a cedar in Lebanon." Psalms 92:13 27 12 28 13 29 14 30 15 January 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund AtlasCed ar
Month: January Common name: Atlas cedar Scienti c name: Cedrus atlantica Hebrew name: erez atlanti Family: Pinaceae Habitat and Distribution: Northern Israel; the Carmel, Galilee and Golan Flowering months: March-April
The Atlas cedar originates in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco where it grows at elevations of 1500-2500 m, forming single-species forests or as part of mixed forests. A hardy tree, tolerant to cold, the Atlas cedar can thrive in various types of soil, but prefers full sunlight. It is a fast growing species, used for אֶ רֶ ז אַ טְ לַ נְ טִ י ornamental purposes and a orestation in the temperate zones of Europe and North America, as well as in semi-arid Mediterranean regions. Some scientists regard the Atlas cedar as a subspecies of the Lebanese cedar, a native species to the Mediterranean and the national symbol of Lebanon. The tree can be distinguished from other evergreens by its "rosettes", clusters of 3/4 inch long needles on a short stem.
The cedar is often cited in the Bible, employed as a metaphor and simile for both physical and moral strength: "The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalms 29:5). “The righteous shall ourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalms 92:13).
"Herzl’s Cedar" During Theodor Herzl's rst and historic visit to the Land of Israel with the Zionist delegation in 1898, he noted the barrenness of the hills surrounding Jerusalem caused by centuries of neglect. In their midst was the small Jewish settlement of Motsa, where he asked to plant a tree. Herzl's diary entry for that day reads, "I planted a cedar on the slope of Broza’s plot, and Wolfson planted a palm sapling…" Herzl and his companions believed he had planted a cedar and, therefore, the location was named Arza, from the Hebrew word erez (cedar), but botanical testing conducted years later proved the tree was actually a cypress. Sometime before 1917 the tree became a casualty of the British-Ottoman struggle over the land and was hewed down. Attempts to revive the tree failed, but its remnants are preserved at the site and on the anniversary of Herzl's death young people would continue to plant around the destroyed tree.
The wood of the Atlas and the Lebanese cedar is considered excellent for building, as the timber is strong and resistant to insects and decay. In this context the Bible refers to cedar, which King Solomon purchased for constructing the Temple: "And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying: ‘"As thou didst deal "…While weeping Atlas cedars, they just with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell want to grow, grow and grow…" therein’… Send me also cedar-trees, cypress-trees, and sandal-wood, out of Lebanon…” (2 Chronicles 2:2-7). George Harrison, Beware of Darkness Essential oil from cedar wood was purportedly one of the rst crude oils to be extracted, one of the oils the ancient Egyptians used in embalming and an e ective insect repellent.
As its actions are sedative, astringent, and antiseptic, the oil is used in aroma- therapy to calm and relieve nervous tension and for treating skin and respiratory conditions. .
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Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 16 2 17 3 18 4 Almond 19 sha'ked matsuy). In Israel, the almond tree 20) שָׁ קֵ ד מָ צ ּוי 5 is the harbinger of spring and the symbol of Tu Bishvat, Israel’s Arbor Day. Its Hebrew name, 6 sha'ked, meaning watchful, wakeful and diligent, 21 re ects its role in alerting nature to spring's arrival. 7 Throughout northern and central Israel, the tree's 22 white or pink blossoms dot the landscape, bearing 8 tidings that winter has ended. 23 וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיהֶם אִם-כֵּן אֵ פוֹא זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְ חוּ 24 מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ בִּכְלֵיכֶם וְהוֹרִידוּ לָאִישׁ מִנְחָה: מְעַט צֳרִי וּמְעַט דְּבַשׁ נְכֹאת 9 25 וָט בָּטְנִים וּשְׁקֵדִ ים. בראשית מג, יא 10 "And their father Israel said unto them: 'If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the 11 land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, 26 12 spicery and ladanum, nuts, and almonds." Genesis 43:11 27 13 28 14 29 15 February
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Almond
Month: February Common name: Common Almond Scienti c name: Amygdalus communis Hebrew name: sha'ked matsuy Family: Rosaceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean wood- lands and forests in northern and central Israel Flowering months: February-March
Almond trees are deciduous, shedding their leaves in autumn and blooming early in Israel’s native woodlands, even before their leaves sprout. Native to the Mediterranean region, almond trees have grown in Israel for centuries, and in areas such as the Judean Mountains many existing abandoned groves still שָׁ קֵ ד מָ צ ּוי produce fruit.
While in a forest, have you ever eaten an almond straight from the tree and found it unbearably bitter? Amygdalin is the bitter substance that becomes prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) when the almond is crushed or chewed. Fifty such almonds ingested by an adult human can be fatal; the toxicity prevents it from being consumed by wildlife. So how is it that we eat almonds today? The almond is believed to be one of the earliest domesticated plants and because it is domesticated, contains no amygdaline. One theory for this phenomenon is that early farmers, perhaps of the Near Eastern Early Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC), grew a common genetic mutation from seeds, resulting in an absence of amygdalin, before the introduction of grafting, which is the main method used today in producing cultivated almonds.
The almond tree, rife with meaning, is mentioned numerous times in the Bible: a choice gift, “If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and ladanum, nuts, and almonds” (Genesis 43:11); a "divining rod" in the process of choosing the tribe to ful ll the priestly duties in the Temple, “And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.” Moses did as instructed and “… behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds” (Numbers 17:17-23); a motif in the menorah of the Tabernacle, as described in detail in Exodus 25:33-34; in the prophet's vision as recorded in Jeremiah 1:11-12, and others.
The medieval scholar and physician Maimonides praised the almond as the nest of fruits. One of the most nutritious of all nuts, almonds are low in saturated fat and contain calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease "It is a wholesome and necessary thing for and cancer. Almonds are high in fat, in the form of monounsaturated fats, associ- us to turn again to the earth and in the ated with reducing the risk of heart disease. As well, scienti c studies have linked them to the reduction of cholesterol levels. contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility." Almonds, tasty on their own, raw or toasted, are used widely in cooking. They Rachel Carson are available whole, sliced and as almond butter, milk or oil. Marzipan, nougat and macaroons are only a few of the sweets prepared from almonds.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 Judas Tree 20 kelil hahoresh). In the full bloom of 21) כְּ לִ יל ַ ה ֹח רֶ ֹש 5 spring, the Judas tree is one of Israel’s most striking 6 trees. Its characteristic crimson pink owers can be 22 seen from afar among the surrounding green foliage. The Judas tree is a successful example of 7 a domesticated wild species that beauti es 23 8 gardens all over Israel. 24 וְעַתָּה שְׁלַח-לִי אִישׁ-חָכָם לַעֲשׂוֹת ...בָּאַרְגְּוָן וְכַרְמִ יל 25 וּתְכֵלֶת וְיֹדֵעַ לְפַתֵּחַ פִּתּוּחִים: עִם-הַחֲכָמִים אֲשֶׁר עִמִּי בִּיהוּדָה וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם 9 26 אֲשֶׁר הֵכִין דָּוִיד אָבִ י. דברי הימים ב ב, ו 10 "Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in …purple, and crimson, and blue, and 11 that hath skill to grave all manner of gravings, to be with the skilful men that are with 27 12 me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide." 2 Chronicles 2:6 28 13 29 14 30 15 31 16 March Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Judas Tree
Month: March Common name: Judas Tree Scienti c name: Cercis siliquastrum Hebrew name: kelil hahoresh Family: Caesalpiniaceae Habitat and Distribution: hilly areas in Mediterranean woodlands and forests in northern and central Israel and on Mt. Hermon Flowering months: March-May and October-November
The Judas tree is deciduous and in Israel, blooms twice a year. The tree rst owers in spring, before its leaves grow back and is distinguished by its crimson pink blossoms, re ected in another of its vernacular names, Red Bud. The second blooming is in autumn, before shedding its leaves, although then כְ ּ לִ י ל ַ ה ֹ ח רֶ ֹש its owers are much less conspicuous, as fewer bloom and those that do are hidden by the tree's foliage.
The etymology of the tree's name is possibly from its French common name, Arbre de Judée, tree of Judea, the region in which the Judas tree grows. Notwithstanding, the belief that Judas Iscariot, lled with remorse for having betrayed Jesus to the Romans, hanged himself from the tree, is related to its common name in English.
The owers of the Judas tree are rich in nectar, attracting many insects that serve as pollinators. Arabs and the Druze of northern Israel produce a traditional condiment from the tree's sweet owers.
Di erent parts of the Judas tree are used in traditional medicine for treating ailments such as eye in ammations and fungal infections.
"Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness." Kahlil Gibran
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 16 2 17 3 18 4 Christ’s T hornJujube 19 shezaf matsuy). The evocatively 20) ׁשֵ י ָ ז ף מָ צ ּוי 5 named Christ's thorn jujube is a dense, thorny 6 tree of tropical-Sudanese origin. In Israel, it is an 21 integral part of the landscape and KKL-JNF uses the hardy species for a orestation. The oldest 7 and largest known tree in Israel is that of the 22 Christ's thorn jujube, located in the central Arava 8 at En Hatseva. 23 24 וּבָאוּ וְנָחוּ כֻלָּם בְּנַחֲלֵי הַבַּתּוֹת, וּבִנְקִיקֵי הַסְּלָעִ ים; 9 וּבְ כֹל, הַנַּעֲצוּצִים, וּבְ כֹל, הַנַּהֲלִיםׁ. ישעיהו ז, יט 10 25 "And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the rugged valleys, and in the 11 holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all brambles." Isaiah 7:19 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 April 30 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Christ’s T hornJujube
Month: April Common name: Christ's Thorn Jujube Scienti c name: Ziziphus spina-christi Hebrew name: shezaf matsuy Family: Rhamnaceae Habitat and Distribution: throughout Israel Flowering months: March-October
In Israel, Christ’s thorn jujubes are both natural and planted. Having originated in warm, humid climes, the tree “deliberates” whether or not to shed its leaves in winter. Though it usually grows as an evergreen tree, preserving its green leaves throughout the year, during an especially cold winter it will shed most of its leaves. The jujube has ׁשֵ י ָ ז ף מָ צ ּוי been mainly planted in forests created over the past thirty years, ever since a oresta- tion activity began focusing on the ideal of mixed forests. Aerial photos dating back to 1945 show well-developed jujubes at sites where they still exist today, testifying to their longevity. The jujube fruit, colloquially called domim, is not to everyone's taste, though hikers often enjoy it, as do sheep and goats. Individual trees of this species throughout the country have reached heights of ten meters, accompanied by very broad trunks and expansive crowns of dense, zigzagging branches. Each leaf grows a pair of stipules at its base, which turn into hard thorns, one straight and the other hooked.
According to Christian tradition, the crown of thorns the Romans placed on Jesus’ head before his cruci xion, as referred to in the New Testament, was formed from the branches of the tree, hence its scienti c name. Although Christ's thorn jujube is rare in the Jerusalem vicinity, the noted late 19th century traveler Canon Henry Baker Tristram wrote that he saw the species in the Valley of Kidron, outside of Jerusalem, possibly con rming the premise that the crown was made from the jujube.
The tree is mentioned in Jewish sources in the context of laws forbidding speci c planting mixtures, grafting and crossbreeding of seeds, “And the plums and the jujube, even though they are similar” (Mishnah, Tractate Kil’aim 4:4), and in Tractate Demai, concerning the laws of tithing.
The Christ's thorn jujube features in a traditional Muslim legend, in which the tree grows in Paradise, with leaves as many as there are human beings. Each leaf bears the name of a person. Every year, one day in the middle of the month of Ramadan, just after sunset, the tree is shaken. The names on the leaves that fall are of those who will die in the coming year.
Considered by Muslims a "sacred tree" and for the Druze, Christ thorn jujubes bear the status of a "blessed tree", it has been protected from being cut down near sites of cultural or religious signi cance.
"By means of trees, wildlife could be There is evidence that the jujube was used in Pharaonic times for its wood and fruits. conserved, pollution decreased and the One of the uses of the fruit was in baking bread, a practice followed by Egyptian peasants as late as the beginning of the 20th century. And still, today, Bedouins collect beauty of our landscapes enhanced. This is and dry the fruits for use in the winter, making a thick paste to be used as bread. The the way, or at least one of the ways, to tree's wood is heavy and durable and serves as a medium for artistic woodwork, spiritual, moral, and cultural regeneration." rewood and high-quality charcoal. E.F. Schumacher Christ’s thorn jujube is used in traditional medicine for treating toothache (powder from roots), arthritis (paste from crushed roots, leaves or branches), muscle pains (inhalation of leaves and branches), asthma (fruit, leaves and seeds), diarrhea (infusion of fruit and leaves), burns (fruit crushed and boiled), and other ailments.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 Atlantic Pistacia 20 elah atlantit). Atlantic pistacias are impressive trees. Their 21) אֵ ּלַ ה אַ טְ לַ נְ טִ ית 5 great size, wide trunks and gnarled branches make them easy to identify, 6 from the eastern Galilee down to the Negev Highlands. The trees' massive 22 trunks are sometimes attacked by beetle larvae, consuming them from 7 inside leaving only large, hollow trunks. 23 8 24 25 ...וְעַל-הַגְּבָעוֹת יְקַטֵּרוּ, תַּחַ ת אַלּוֹן וְלִבְנֶה וְאֵלָה, כִּי טוֹב צִלָּ הּ. הושע ד, יג 9 10 26 "...under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good." 11 Hosea 4:13 27 12 28 13 29 14 30 15 May 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Atlantic Pistacia
Month: May Common name: Atlantic Pistacia Scienti c name: Pistacia atlantica Hebrew name: elah atlantit Family: Anacardiaceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean woodlands and forests; semi-arid and desert regions Flowering months: March-April
The Atlantic pistacia is a major component of Israel's natural landscapes and one of the most drought resistant of Israel’s native woodland trees. Atlantic pistacias grow in the eastern Upper Galilee where many old, large trees can be found. They also grow in the desert, but mainly in soil pockets on large אֵ ּלַ ה אַ טְ לַ נְ טִ י ת expanses of rock where runo accumulates, providing an excellent source of water for growth. Those trees planted close to holy sites have been protected by association and spared being cut down and, therefore, can attain great size. Some have trunks with a diameter of two meters.
Atlantic pistacias are dioecious, having separate male and female trees. They produce red and bluish fruits: the red fruit is empty, as no seeds develop, while the bluish ones produce viable seeds. The fruit is eaten by birds and the excreted seeds are then dispersed over long distances, reaching even the most isolated areas. Like its relative, the terebinth, the Atlantic pistacia has galls (tissue growth caused by aphids), which are coral shaped, as opposed to the pod-like terebinth galls.
There are three species of pistacia in Israel, two of which are often mentioned in the Bible, the Atlantic pistacia and the terebinth. Both trees are called elah in Hebrew, each with a di erent quali er, but in the Bible they appear only as elah, so it is di cult to know which species is being referred to. The tree is rst cited in the Book of Genesis, with Jacob hiding the idols Rachel stole from her father: “And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand…; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth…” (Genesis 35:4). The pistacia is mentioned again in the tale of Saul’s death at the hands of the Philistines: “all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons… and buried their bones under the terebinth in Jabesh…” (I Chronicles10:12).
The fruit of the Atlantic pistacia is used to produce oil for domestic purposes and for lighting. Turpentine is produced from its resin, its wood is used for woodturning (such as the giant wood screws of oil presses in the Golan), and the tannins in its galls were once used for tanning leather. The tree can serve as a rootstock for Pistacia vera (pistachio) which produces the familiar pistachio nuts.
"The clearest way into the universe is Traditionally, the fruit and leaves of the Atlantic pistacia are used to treat through a forest wilderness." infected wounds. A scienti c study has indeed shown that the plant's extracts John Muir have anti-bacterial activity and enhance healing. In Jordanian traditional medicine, pistacia extracts are used to treat diabetes and purportedly have hypoglycemic e ects.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 16 2 17 3 Terebinth 18 elah erets-yisraelit). The terebinth's red, 19) אֵ ּלַ ה אֶ רֶ ץ ִ י שְ ׂ רְ ֵ א ִ ל ית 4 young leaves and owers of spring, and its autumn 5 fruits that follow, create bright scarlet patches in 20 Israel’s native woodland. The terebinths' galls are another distinguishing feature; they look 21 6 just like fruit and, therefore, are often mistaken for such. How can one tell the fruit 7 from the gall? The real fruit are small, round 22 berries, whereas the galls are long, pod-like 8 formations, created by the tree in response to 23 9 invading aphids having laid their eggs in the bark. 24 25 וְתַחַת כָּל-עֵץ רַעֲנָן וְתַחַת כָּל-אֵלָה עֲבֻתָּה..ׁ. יחזקאל ו, יג 10 11 "…under every leafy tree, and under every thick terebinth…" Ezekiel 6:13 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 June 30
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Terebinth
Month: June Common name: Terebinth Scienti c name: Pistacia palaestina Hebrew name: elah erets-yisraelit Family: Anacardiaceae Habitat and Distribution: woods and forests in the Galilee and Judean Mountains Flowering months: March-April
The terebinth is considered an important component of the oak-terebinth association, the major plant association in Israel’s Mediterranean region. Its ower clusters (due leaves, sprouting and during exfoliation, young branches, אֵ ּלַה אֶ רֶ ץ ִ י שְ ׂ רְ ֵ א ִ ל י ת to the stamens and stigmas), and fruit are all bright, shiny red. When the tree is wounded it secretes a resin with a scent reminiscent of that of a mango (they belong to the same family). The tree produces edible fruit, the seeds of which are dispersed by birds.
The terebinth features in the Bible's epic tale of Absalom, King David’s rebellious son. While eeing from his father, Absalom's long tresses became entangled in the terebinth's branches: "Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth, and his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth" (2 Samuel 18:9).
In folk medicine, the fruit is used to cure heartburn, ulcers, toothache, stomach- ache and other ailments. The bark, boiled in water, is used in treating eczema "We have nothing to fear and a great deal and hemorrhage. Turpentine is extracted from the trunk after scarifying its to learn from trees, that vigorous and bark. The tree's wood is carved, among others, into decorated mortars used in paci c tribe which without stint produces crushing co ee beans. strengthening essences for us, soothing balms, and in whose gracious company we spend so many cool, silent and intimate hours." Marcel Proust, Pleasures and Regrets, 1896
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 20 5 Sycamore 21 cus ha-shikma). Sycamore trees have a ) פִ ּיקוס הַ ּ ִׁ שקְ מָ ה distinctive presence in Israel's landscape. One of the 6 most prominent trees growing in Israel’s coastal 22 plain, sycamore trees are distinguished by their 7 large, thick trunks and leathery leaves. Unfortu- 23 nately, they are now in danger of extinction due 8 to habitat reduction resulting from accelerated 24 urban development. 25 וַיַּעַן עָמוֹס וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-אֲמַצְיָה א נָבִ יא אָנֹכִ י 9 26 וְא בֶן נָבִ יא אָנֹכִי: כִּי בוֹקֵר אָנֹכִי וּבוֹלֵס שִׁקְמִיםׁ. עמוס ז, יד 10 "Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah: I was no prophet, neither was I a 11 prophet's son; but I was a herdman, and a dresser of sycamore-trees;" Amos 7:14 27 12 28 13 29 14 30 15 July 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Sycamore
Month: July Common name: Sycamore Scienti c name: Ficus sycomorus Hebrew name: cus ha-shikma Family: Moraceae Habitat: light soils in areas with a high water table Range in Israel: along the Coastal Plain, the Jordan Valley, northern valleys and the Sharon area Flowering months: March-August
Sycamores were introduced to Israel during the dawn of history, 6500 years ago and, perhaps, even before 10,000 years. The species belongs to the same genus as the g and originates from East Africa, where its natural pollinator lives. Like the c symbiotic wasp to produce g, the sycamore requires the presence of a speci פִ ּיקוס הַ ּשִ ׁ קְ מָ ה seeds, (although it can also produce fruit through parthenocarpia, i.e. without fertilization). As Israel is not part of the wasp's natural range, the tree is propa- gated by cuttings, only.
The fruit of the sycamore ripens only after incisions have been made in it, three days before it has been picked, while another g forms beneath it. In this manner, the tree can produce seven crops of juicy gs in one summer. This activity is most likely what the prophet referred to when he described himself as a dresser [piercer] of sycamore-trees, as recorded in the Book of Amos 7:14.
Sycamores were planted for their shade and fruit. The wood was used in construc- tion, for heating, and in ancient Egypt, for co ns. In Israel, doors of an ancient synagogue were identi ed as sycamore and about one-tenth of all the wooden remains found at Masada from the Roman Period were made from the tree.
Sycamores are very long-lived. Exactly how long we do not know, because, like other tropical trees they do not produce annual rings by which a tree’s age is accurately determined. Nevertheless, a number of these very old trees can be identi ed. Among them, one in a small public park in Netanya, sketched into history by Sir Charles William Wilson of the British Royal Engineers, who surveyed the Land of Israel in the mid-19th century. Already then, the tree appears large and very aged.
The tree is mentioned in a number of ancient Jewish sources in describing Israel's geography: “Sycamores are a sign of the coastal plain” (Tosefta Sheviit 87:6); “The area where sycamores do not grow is the Upper Galilee … The area where sycamores do grow is the Lower Galilee” (Sheviit 89:42); “Sign of the coastal plain – sycamores” (Pesachim 53, see also Jerusalem Talmud Berhakot 89).
The Roman military commander and naturalist, Pliny the Elder, described the "If what I say resonates with you, sycamore in his encyclopedic work, Naturalis Historia. In noting the variety of it is merely because we are both Egypt's trees not found elsewhere, he was particularly impressed by the branches on the same tree." sycamore, which he named the g-tree of Alexandria, explaining that its fruit is produced, not on branches, but on the trunk itself, and that it is seedless and W.B. Yeats exceptionally sweet.
Traditional African medicine employs the sycamore's bark and milky latex, imbibed or applied to in amed areas, in treating a number of ailments such as those of the respiratory system and for dysentery. Scienti c research has found that sycamore bark extracts have a sedative e ect and could be a possible source of sedative or anesthetic drugs.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 Fig 20 rst tree mentioned 21 te’ena). In addition to being the) תְּ אֵ נָ ה 5 by name in the Bible, nothing equals the g tree's juicy 6 fruit for a tired hiker – bird, fox or goat – stopping by a 22 spring to rest. All over northern and central Israel, gs begin to ripen in August, and besides springs the 7 tree can be found near ancient cisterns and in 23 orchards. KKL-JNF plants g trees as part of its 8 e orts to improve forest biodiversity. 24 25 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, תִּקְרְ אוּ 9 אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ אֶל תַּחַת גֶּפֶן וְאֶל-תַּחַת תְּאֵנָהׁ. זכריה ג, י 10 26 "In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour 11 under the vine and under the g-tree." Zechariah 3:10 27 12 28 13 29 14 30 15 August 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Fig
Month: August Common name: Fig Scienti c name: Ficus carica Hebrew name: te’ena Family: Moraceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean; semi-arid areas Flowering months: April-August
The oldest g trees in the world are found in Israel's Jordan Valley. Indeed, Ficus carica is one of the oldest cultivated trees, domesticated approximately 1000 .years before wheat, barley and legumes תְּ אֵ נָ ה The g is monoecious, having male and female owers on the same plant. The edible part of the g called the 'fruit' is actually a synconium, inside of which is a cluster of hundreds of owers. When pollinated, these owers produce drupe- lets, tiny bubbles of fruit material with a seed in the center. The dependable mutualism that exists between gs and pollinating wasps ensures both their survival and propagation. The female wasp enters a tiny hole at the top of the g, lays her eggs and dies. The larvae hatch, mature, mate and the pollen- carrying females leave and enter new gs, with the cycle then repeating.
Fig trees are one of the most frequently mentioned plants in the Bible. The rst reference to the tree, and possibly the most famous and popular reading of the event in which they feature, is in Genesis, with Adam and Eve fashioning g leaves together to cover themselves, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed g-leaves together, and made themselves girdles” (Genesis 3:7).
The Torah is compared to a g tree. Just as g trees gradually produce fruit over a period of months, so too the Torah cannot be studied all at once, but through- out a lifetime. (Midrash Numbers Rabba 12:9). Just as whenever you go to a g tree you are likely to nd ripe fruit to eat, so too whenever you go to the Torah you will nd nourishment for the spirit. (Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 54a, b). "I think that I shall never see Whereas, most fruits have inedible parts: dates have pits, grapes have seeds, and pomegranates have peels, every part of the g can be eaten. Similarly, no A poem lovely as a tree." part of the Torah is without value; all its parts provide sustenance. (Midrash Joyce Kilmer Yalkut Shimoni, Joshua 2).
Figs are a uniquely nutritious fruit; an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K, rich in ber and containing antioxidants. In traditional medicine, gs have been used to treat constipation, bronchitis, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), eczema, psoriasis and diabetes. Its latex has been used to remove warts and treat skin tumors .
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 16 2 17 3 18 4 19 5 EasternStrawberry 20 ketalav). The smooth, red bark of the eastern) קְ טָ ָ ל ב strawberry tree distinguishes it from the other of 6 Israel's woodland trees. Its blood-red trunk, the 21 bark of which annually peels o , and the color 7 replicated in its redolent fruit, has been the 22 source of picaresque legends, including 8 those more lurid, as re ected in its Hebrew 23 name, ketalav, meaning father killer. 24 וַיֹּאמֶר אֱהִים תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב מַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע עֵץ פְּרִ י 9 25 עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְמִינוֹ אֲשֶׁר זַרְעוֹ בוֹ עַל-הָאָרֶץ; וַיְהִי-כֵןׁ. בראשית א, יא 10 "And God said: 'Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree 11 bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth ." Genesis 1:11 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 September 30
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund EasternStrawberry
Month: September Common name: Eastern Strawberry tree Scienti c name: Arbutus andrachne Hebrew name: ketalav Family: Ericaceae Habitat and Distribution: heavy soils in central and northern Israel Flowering months: March-April
The eastern (or oriental) strawberry tree stands out among those of Israel’s native woodlands, due to its red bark, as well as its clusters of small, white bell-type owers and its fruit, similar to strawberries in appearance (hence its English name). Like the eucalyptus, the bark of the eastern strawberry tree קְ טָ ָ ל ב peels o in strips every year, most probably a means of ridding and protecting the tree from various parasites. The greenish-brown fresh bark turns a deep red, covering a twisting, wrung-like con gured trunk.
The symbiosis between eshy fruit (berries), such as those of the eastern strawberry tree, and birds ensures the tree's propagation. The fruit is consumed by birds and the journey through the animal’s digestive tract not only brings the seeds to new habitats, but also improves their germinating ability.
There are those who claim that the Hebrew name, ketlav, father killer, is due to the fruit's feature of remaining whole until a new shoot appears, thereby "killing" its progenitor fruit. The bark is the basis for the Arab legend, in which a shepherd argued with his father and in a moment of rage struck him dead. From the weapon, a blood stained branch, the tree grew. The site where Absalom's blood dripped (2 Samuel 18:14), near the terebinth in which his hair was entangled, is a Biblical source for the tree's red trunk. Indeed, the two trees grow near each other. The convoluted branches, like muscled arms, have been connected to legends concerned with competition and strenuous e ort. "He who plants a tree, plants a hope ." The fruit is rich in avonoids, responsible for their antioxidant properties and Lucy Larcom considered a good source of vitamin C and dietary ber. In traditional medicine the strawberry tree is valued as an astringent and antiseptic herb and as a gargling agent, helpful in curing sore throats.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 Carob 20 haruv). Carob trees in Israel are both wild 21) חָ ר ּוב 5 and cultivated. During the 1950s, KKL-JNF 6 planted hundreds of acres of carob trees in 22 forests and abandoned elds. Easy to grow and adaptable to diverse habitats, these planta- 7 tions have created extensive patches of 23 8 green in Israel’s hills and lowlands. 24 Honi the Circle Maker (Honi Hama'agel) saw a 9 man planting a carob tree and asked him, "How 25 long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?" The man replied, "Seventy years." Honi then asked, "And do you think you will 10 live another seventy years to eat the fruit of this tree?" The man answered, 26 "Perhaps not. However, when I was born into this world I found many carob trees 11 planted by my ancestors. As they planted trees for me, so too, I plant trees for my 27 12 descendents to enable them to eat the fruit of these trees." Talmud, Ta'anit 23a 28 13 29 14 30 15 October 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Carob
Month: October Common name: Carob Scienti c name: Ceratonia siliqua Hebrew name: haruv Family: Caesalpiniaceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean woodlands and forests throughout Israel, up to altitudes of 400 meters Flowering months: August-November
The broad crowned carob tree reaches a height of up to ten meters and is dioecious, divided into male and fruit producing female. The small owers of the male tree have a distinctive, pungent odor that permeates the autumn air. The seed is dispersed by mammals who consume the fruit, a slowly ripening חָ ר ּוב pod, after its having dropped to the ground.
The humble carob seed shares an illustrious history with gold and diamonds. Carat, the unit by which gem weight and the purity of gold are measured, is derived from the Hebrew word gerah (Exodus 30:13) or from the Greek word kerátiοn alluding to an ancient practice of weighing gold and diamonds against the seeds of the carob tree (Ceratonia). The seed was chosen for this function because its weight remains constant.
Although the carob is not mentioned in the Bible, it is cited in the Mishnah and the Talmud. Tractate Berakhot records that Rabbi Haninah subsisted on carob pods, as did Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, rst century Tannaic sage and purported author the Kabbalistic text, the Zohar. It was most likely the carob, also known as St. John's Bread, on which John the Baptist subsisted, as referred to in the New Testament, Matthew 3:4. Archeological evidence indicates that carobs have been present in Israel since the period of the Second Temple, at which time they are thought to have been introduced. They are referred to as early as the 12th century in the literature of travelers who passed through the Land of Israel.
Resilient to harsh climates and drought, the tree's pods have provided sustenance in times of famine. In ancient Egypt the carob was used for the hieroglyph "sweet" and it was an important source of sugar before sugarcane and sugar beets became widely available. In most of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, carobs were used to prepare traditional drinks, syrups and "All that is in forests bespeaks poetry…" as animal fodder. Shmuel Yosef Agnon, In Town and Forests The dark brown carob pod, dried or roasted and then ground, forms a high protein powder that is an e ective substitute for cocoa powder. It di ers from chocolate in taste, but has only one-third the calories, is virtually fat-free (chocolate being half fat), rich in pectin, non-allergenic, abundant in protein, and, unlike cacao, does not contain oxalic acid, which inhibits the absorption of calcium. Carob is rich in vitamins A and B and several vital minerals, as well.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 16 2 17 3 18 4 Olive 19 zayit). Olive trees are synonymous with Israel’s 20) זַ יִ ת 5 landscape, whether great ancient specimens with 6 gnarled trunks, or young, recently established 21 plantations. The olive tree is an integral part of Israel's environment, culture, folklore and art, and its 7 fruit and oil are basic staples. KKL-JNF plants olive 22 groves in many parts of the country for landscaping 8 and rehabilitating ancient agricultural terraces. 23 24 אֶשְׁתְּ כְּגֶפֶן פֹּרִיָּה בְּיַרְכְּתֵי בֵיתֶ : 9 בָּנֶי כִּשְׁתִלֵי זֵיתִים סָבִיב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶׁ. תהילים קכח, ג 10 25 "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house; thy 11 children like olive plants, round about thy table." Psalms 128:3 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 November 30
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Olive
Month: November Common name: Olive Scienti c name: Olea europaea Hebrew name: zayit Family: Oleaceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean woodlands and forests throughout Israel; in plantations in all parts of the country Flowering months: April-May
The olive tree is the quintessential symbol of the Mediterranean region, and the olive oil, derived from its fruit, is surely the region's greatest contribution to humanity in terms of produce. The tree has been extensively cultivated and has played a major role in the economy and culture of the Mediterranean region for זַ יִ ת thousands of years. Consequently, it is di cult to know which trees are wild and which originate from cultivated strains. According to archeological nds, olives were cultivated in Israel as far back as the Chalcolithic period (6000-7000 years ago). Pollen of wild olives was found in sediments 30,000 years old, and in the Negev Highlands, wood remains were discovered in layers 45,000 years old. The standard method of counting tree rings to determine a tree's age cannot be applied to olive trees, as the center of the trunk is always hollow due to natural decay. It is, therefore, a challenge to determine the age of existing ancient olive trees.
The olive tree is a very hardy species, resistant to drought, disease and re and has a long life span. Its root system is both wide and deep, enabling the tree to thrive with no irrigation, even in the dry Mediterranean region, and due to their tolerance to high levels of salinity in groundwater olive trees can grow close to the sea.
There are over thirty references to the tree and its olives in the Bible. The olive is included in the Seven Species listed in Deuteronomy 8:8, with which the Land of Israel was blessed. It is rst cited in Genesis, with the dove's auspicious return to Noah's ark, “And the dove came in to him at eventide; and lo in her mouth an olive-leaf freshly plucked; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from o the earth” (Genesis 8:11). Western culture has embraced the olive branch as a symbol of peace and it is a motif in the emblem of the State of Israel: two olive branches anking a menorah, the seven-branched candela- brum in the Holy Temple, lit with olive oil. Indeed, the oil holds a central place in Jewish ceremony, as exempli ed by the festival of Hanukkah, which revolves around a jar of olive oil, and in anointing the Kings of Israel.
In Israel, olives begin ripening in September, their eshy fruit green at rst, later turning black and shiny. The olives eaten are those picked at the unripe, green "If we surrendered to earth's intelligence, stage, having undergone a long pickling process. Considered the healthiest of we could rise up rooted, like trees…" edible oils, olive oil also serves as a basis for many cosmetic products.
Rainer Maria Rilke The health bene ts of consuming olive oil, particularly extra-virgin, are due to both its high content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and anti-oxidative substances. Studies have shown that olive oil protects against heart disease by controlling LDL cholesterol levels while raising HDL levels.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 20 PalestineO ak 21 alon matsuy). A walk through Israel’s) אַ ּל וֹ ן מָ צ ּוי 5 native woodlands in the Galilee or the Judean 6 Mountains leaves no doubt as to which tree is 22 "king of the forest", not due to its imperious- 7 ness, but because the Palestine oak is the 23 most characteristic and common oak species, as part of the oak-terebinth association that 24 8 grows in Israel. 25 וַתָּמָת דְּ בֹרָה מֵינֶקֶת רִבְקָה וַתִּקָּבֵר מִתַּחַת לְבֵית-אֵ ל 9 26 תַּחַת הָאַלּוֹן; וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אַלּוֹן בָּכוּתׁ. בראשית לה, ח 10 "And Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak; 11 and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth." Genesis 35:8 27 12 28 13 29 14 30 15 December 31 16 Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund PalestineO ak
Month: December Common name: Palestine Oak Scienti c name: Quercus calliprinos Hebrew name: alon matsuy Family: Fagaceae Habitat and Distribution: Mediterranean woodlands and forests in northern and central Israel Flowering months: March-April
While some oaks are deciduous, shedding their leaves as winter approaches, the Palestine oak is evergreen and the most common tree species in Israel's Mediterranean region. Jays help oak trees disperse and spread; they collect and hide acorns in caches, usually in the ground to eat at a later time. Some of the אַ ּל וֹ ן מָ צ ּוי acorns, gathered from di erent trees, germinate and grow into new oaks, far from their parent trees.
Although the oak is traditionally considered a symbol of strength, most of the oaks in Israel look more like tall shrubs than trees, mainly due to having been subjected to years of overgrazing and cutting. Where oaks have been left undis- turbed, growing into tall, impressive trees, it is often because they were planted at sites considered holy. One of the most famous of these specimens is Abraham’s Oak near Hebron. The great tree is believed to be a remnant of an oak grove, the Oaks of Mamre, mentioned in Genesis 18:4, “And the LORD appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre.” According to tradition, this is where Abraham received the three angels who brought tidings that he would have a son. The site, holy to all religions, is now under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. Other places in Israel where impressive, hundreds of years old oak trees can be found are Hurshat HaArba’im on Mt. Carmel, Odem Forest in the Golan Heights and the Alona Nature Reserve, to name a few.
Alon, the Hebrew for oak, is mentioned in the Bible in various contexts: as a symbol for strength, “Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks” (Amos 2:9); a place of idol worship, “They sacri ce upon the tops of the mountains, and o er upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths” (Hosea 14:13); as raw material for sculpting and for industry (oars), “Of the oaks of Bashan have they "It is not so much for its beauty that the forest made thine oars” (Ezekiel 27:6). makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that Because oak wood is strong it has been used for making plow shanks and ox subtle something, that quality of air, that yokes in traditional agriculture. Oak barrels are considered best for storing and emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully aging wine and oak bark was the original source of tannin, an important changes and renews a weary spirit." ingredient in tanning leather. Robert Louis Stevenson Many parts of the oak tree are used in traditional medicine. Tea is prepared from oak bark, and the tree's owers and acorns are used in cures for stomach ailments.
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Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Did you know that... KKL-JNF friends and donors in Israel and around the world
• Planted more than 240 million trees • Carries out cutting-edge research whose ndings are applied to water conservation, • Manages and maintains 40,000 hectares sustainable forestry, the prevention of soil (100,000 acres) of natural woodland erosion, modern agriculture and related environmental issues • Contributes to Israel’s water economy by building reservoirs and dams to impound • Partners with international organizations runo , oodwaters and recycled water, in sharing knowledge and implements providing 50% of the country's water used projects in cooperation with countries for agriculture around the world to help nd solutions to environmental challenges • Rehabilitates and restores polluted waterways • Reclaimed land for about 1,000 communities throughout Israel • Built 1,000 recreation areas throughout the country, including leisure areas and • Reclaimed some 100,000 hectares regional parks that host tens of thousands (250,000 acres) of land for farming of visitors • Purchased some 260,000 hectares • Develops thousands of kilometers of (650,000 acres) of land for communities cycling trails, crisscrossing the length and breadth of the country through forests and • Forged 7,000 km of roads and forest open areas, for the public and for free routes • Creates a bond between people and • Educates hundreds of thousands of forests by organizing recreational and young people in Israel and abroad, cultural activities in nature for all intensifying their bond with Israel and helping the social integration of new olim • Conserves the environment, rolls back into Israeli society the desert and creates shady green sites in army camps and southern communities
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Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund
KKL Resources Development & Public A airs Division Projects & Marketing Department Jerusalem 2012 Photos: KKL Photo Archives, Jerusalem Dr. Yoram Goldring Wild Flowers of Israel: www.wild owers.co.il www.kkl.org.il