Olives – tiny fruit, bitter when picked, tasty and healthy after being treated; dark-green leaves that reveal their silvery glow, when they meet the sun rays; a magnificent latticed trunk, evolving from strong and figurative roots that hold on to a light, non-rich soil. Olive trees can easily resist drought, diseases, and even fire - their roots regenerate the trees even after the ground is destroyed. Therefore they live many years, and the older they get, the more interesting and pictorial they appear.
1,200 years old olive tree in Tsuba, near Jerusalem
Picture by Shira Cohen-Regev
The olive fruit is tasty and healthful, not to mention the oil that it produces – known for ages for its nutritional and healing value, as-well-as its significant role in anointing kings and high-priests.
And the most significant of all – the olive leaves, which are the symbol of peace. The dove brought Noah an olive-leaf after the flood, to show that the waters had abated off earth, and that peace had been restored. Since then, olive leaves symbolize the hope for peace, the hope that peace takes the place of all the evil and destruction of the world, the hope that we live in a safe and quiet place. The State of Israel chose the olive leaves around the Menorah as its emblem. The olive leaves symbolize peace, as this is the wish of our state. The olive also symbolizes light, as the oil produced from the olive lightened the Menorah in the Temple.
In this time of the year, in autumn, olives are harvested. The boughs, or the whole tree are shaken and the olives fall into a sheet set on the ground. The harvester can also stand on a ladder and "milk" the olives into a sack, or use an electric tool that removes fruit from the tree. The most important technique of harvesting olives is doing it at once, so no olives fall to the ground without being picked. Therefore, olive harvesting requires much cooperation. The wonderful product gives the Mediterranean kitchen its unique flavor. That's why the olive is one of the Seven Species the Land of Israel was blessed with.
Let us live our lives with all the traits that symbolize the olive: peace and calmness, light and beauty, fruitfulness and longevity.
לְהִתְרָאוֹת, Lehitra’ot,
See you,
שִׁירָה כֹּהֵן-רֶגֶב Shira Cohen-Regev The eTeacherHebrew Team
Hebrew Words
זַיִת Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transcription: zayit Translation: olive
מָסִיק Part of Speech: gerund , Masculine Transcription: mesik Translation: olive harvesting or picking
בֵּית בַּד
Part of Speech: construct state Transcription: beyt bad Translation: oil-press
שֶׁמֶן Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transcription: shemen Translation: oil
יוֹנָה Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transcription: yona Translation: dove, pigeon
And the dove came unto him at eventide; and lo in her mouth an olive-leaf freshly plucked; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. (Genesis 8:11)
The olive also appears in the Jotham parable, as a potential tree to rule the trees:
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree: Reign thou over us. But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Judges 9:8-9)
Interesting Facts about Olives
Some olive trees have been known to live for more than 2,000 years.
רְחוֹב הַזַּיִת – The Olive Street is the most popular name for streets in Israel.
The olive tree becomes fruitful when it is six years old, but the older it gets the more fruitful it is.
Olive trees tend to be more fruitful every other year. Most often, all trees in a grove, or in a certain area tend to be fruitful in the same year.
The symbol of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF, צְבָא הֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל – צה"ל) shows a sword wrapped by an olive branch.
Hebrew Song
Menorah and Olive Branches
מְנוֹרָה וְעַנְפֵי זַיִת
Lyrics: Raphael Saporta
מִלִּים: רְפָאֵל ספורטה
Music: Emanuel Amiran
לַחַן: עִמָּנוּאֵל עַמִירַן (פוגצ'וב)
Translation
Transliteration
Menorah and olive branches,
Good oil and shining light –
Light on the land, light in the house
And peace on Israel
Menora ve’anfey zayit,
shemen tov ve’or yahel-
or ba’aretz, or babayit
veshalom al yisra’el
A name of a prophet. While trying to escape from his mission as a prophet, he was swallowed by a big fish and lived in its belly for three days.
Citation:
"Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me." Jonah 1, 1-2.
Product of The Week- Babylon 9 and the Hebrew Even Shushan Dic'
The most comprehensive Hebrew Dictionary. Revised and updated for the 21st century, the Even Shoshan Dictionary is the ultimate dictionary for both contemporary (modern) and Biblical Hebrew. The conversation book includes exercises that will improve your Hebrew and improve your ability to remember what you learned in each conversation.
"I appreciate and enjoy the Hebrew newsletters. Thank you for the free Hebrew lessons. I am reviewing from my past class with you. It is great!"
Deborah
" Thank you very much it is very interesting your course of Hebrew my mother language its Spanish thus why you will find mistakes in this letter. I will continue for understand more and more. I love Israel and I think its very interesting his history art and everything. Thank you very much."
Elisa Sierra Camacho
" Thank you for sending me the latest Newsletter. I can honestly say that this is the best and most informative Newsletter I have ever received from anyone. I really enjoyed the article about Tel Ch’ai and Josef Trumpeldor, and then to be able to hear the song sung in Hebrew while reading a phonetic translation was indeed brilliant. And to top it all there are Hebrew puzzles! You are truly gifted teachers to make learning so interesting. Learning a new language is never easy, especially when one has to learn a new alphabet as well, but you make learning a delight.
Many many thanks – todahrabbah!! And long may you continue. Shalom."
Geraldine Watson
" Shalom,I really enjoy the newsletter. It makes me feel close to Israel. I am a Christian but feel drawn very closely to the Jewish people. I long to visit Jerusalem and hope one day that God allows me that opportunity. May God bless the Jewish nation, its people and its land. May peace with you."
Oslaida Jennings,Pasadena, California
" shalom! I enjoyed the interesting article about the migrating birds in Israël, and the pictures, and the Jeremiah quote ! Thought provoking Todaraba!"
Academic Biblical Hebrew Teachers – Position openings
We need your help! Students worldwide want to learn Biblical Hebrew in their own language. You can help us give them the opportunity. eTeacher is looking for French, Portuguese, German & Spanish speaking Biblical Hebrew teachers.
In eTeacher we put an emphasis not only on learning the language, but also on the learning experience and the social connection between students and teachers.
Read the personal stories, as told by our teachers and students
To read some of our past students testimonials click here
eTeacherBiblical - I'm Reading & Speaking My Heart's Language!
Angela James ,Houston, Texas
Scott Booth:
After my last visit to Israel I decided I wanted to learn my hearts language, I searched on the internet and found eTeacher. I signed up for the next available class and have never looked back!! After a mere 16 weeks of class time, I am able to read and write in Hebrew.
The State of Israel chose the olive leaves around the Menorah as its emblem. The olive leaves symbolize peace, as this is the wish of our state. The olive also symbolizes light, as the oil produced from the olive lightened the Menorah in the Temple.
