Beautiful Land of Plenty

August 23, 2018

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A lavish collection of Israeli fruit is sold at the Mahane Yehuda open air market in Jerusalem. (Credit: Seth Aronstam)

אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽש

A land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey. (Deuteronomy 8:8)

A land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey.E-retz khi-TAH us-o-RAH v’-GE-fen ut-ay-NAH v’-ree-MON e-retz ZAYT SHE-men ud-VASH

The Bible names seven species as the special agricultural products of Eretz Yisrael. Each of these species is symbolic of the Jewish people. For example, grapes, which grow on low and weak vines, are crushed by foot in order to produce valuable wine. Similarly, the small and scattered Jewish nation, which has faced tremendous adversity and persecution, will ultimately be elevated to achieve its full potential and experience redemption.

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