‫פרשת חי וצומח‬

In the Parsha Ekev

Plants Places
Animals
Compiled from: WWW.ORT.ORG The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan
GudGodah A staging-post in the Israelites' journey through the
wilderness, mentioned at Deuteronomy 10:7, probably
‫ גדגדה‬identical with Chor HaGidgad in Numbers 33:32.
Kadesh Barnea A town in the Negev identified by modern scholars as either
Ain Qudeis or Ain Qudeirat. Mentioned in Numbers 34:4
‫ קדש ברנע‬as the southern point of the boundary of the Promised
Land, and at Numbers 32:8, Deuteronomy 1:19 and
Deuteronomy 9:23 as the place from which the twelve
spies were sent into Canaan by Moses. It is sometimes
identified with Kadesh (where Miriam died), although
some rabbinic authorities dispute this, and is also thought
to be the Rithmah listed at Numbers 33:18-19.
Massah A place mentioned in Exodus 17:7 (under the name
‫ מסה‬Testing-and-Argument), Deuteronomy 6:15 and
Deuteronomy 9:22, so called by Moses because the
people tested G-d by demanding that Moses produce
water. It is mentioned in the blessing of Moses at
Deuteronomy 33:8.
Tabh'erah, Tav'erah A spot beyond the Sinai desert, towards Paran. Following
a period of unrest among the Israelites, this place was
‫ תבערה‬named 'Burning' by Moses to mark the spot where G-d's
fire had consumed the edge of the Israelite camp
(Numbers 11:1-3; Deuteronomy 9:22).
WHEAT - Chitah ‫חטה‬
Wheat's essential role puts it first among
the seven species. Since ancient times, it
has been considered one of man's most
basic crops: from wheat flour, bread is
produced. On Shavuot, the festival of the
First Fruits, the first of the wheat crop
would be brought to the Temple, as a
culmination of the Omer period that began
on Pesach.
BARLEY - Se'orah ‫שערה‬
Barley was, and still is, an important grain in
Israel. Because it requires less water than
wheat, it grows even in the arid fields of the
Negev (Southern Israel). Since it ripens
before wheat, its harvest begins in the
month of Nissan (spring). On Pesach, the
Omer offering of barley was brought to the
Temple in Jerusalem as part of the festival.
Bread prepared from barley was considered

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to be "poor man's" bread, possibly because
it was not considered as tasty as bread
made from wheat.
GRAPES - Gefen ‫גפן‬
Man has been cultivating grapes from the
earliest times: the first vineyard mentioned
in the Bible was planted by Noah after the
Flood. The cluster of grapes, brought to the
Children of Israel in the wilderness by the
Spies, symbolized the bounty of the Land of
Israel. Throughout the generations, grapes
have provided fruit and wine, and
contributed to the economy of the
indigenous Jewish community. Wine,
indicative of joy, is used in many Jewish
rituals and ceremonies.
FIG - T'einah ‫טאנה‬
The broad fig tree provides a lot of shade,
as the prophet Micha proclaims in his vision
of peace in the Land: "Each man will sit
beneath his grapevine and his fig tree, and
no one will fear. . . " This sweet tasting fruit
ripens in the hottest part of the summer and
can be eaten fresh or dried. It was also one
of the fruits brought to Moses by the spies
to prove that the Land of Israel was fruitful.
Following Jewish tradition, which identifies
the tree of knowledge as the fig tree, the fig
is also related to the Torah.
POMEGRANATE - Rimon ‫רמון‬
An old Hebrew song by Yaakov Orland
portrays the pomegranate:
The pomegranate tree has
aromas that flow out from the
Dead Sea and on to Jericho. . .
The pomegranate is a dark red fruit with rich
red flowers, and its abundant seeds.
The pomegranate's shape has been used in
many decorative objects, such as the
rimonim bells used to decorate Torah
scrolls, the 200 rimonim of copper on the
beams of the Temple, and the rimonim
which decorated the High Priest's garment
in the Temple.
OLIVE - Zayit ‫זית‬
The olive tree is one of the oldest and
most common trees in the Land of
Israel. Indeed, there are olive trees in
the Galilee that are estimated to be

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 ‫פרשת חי וצומח‬
thousands of years old. The tree's
leaves are green all year round, its roots
are strong, and the silvery underside of
the leaves gives off a sheen of light.
In Biblical times, olive oil was used to anoint
priests and kings. In its purified form it was
used to light the seven-branched Menorah
(candelabra) in the Temple. The olive itself
is eaten after having been preserved. Its oil
is also used for cosmetics, healing
compounds, and soaps.
The olive branch has been a symbol of
peace ever since it was used by Noah as
evidence that the flood had ended. It is part
of the emblem of the State of Israel, its deep
roots symbolizing the people's strong
attachment to the land.
DATE (Honey) - Tamar (D'vash) ‫דבש‬
The date is both one of the Seven Species
for which the Land of Israel is noted, and
one of the Four Species used on the festival
of Sukkot. The date tree is a tall and its fruit
grows in clusters near the top. The sweet
dates, which ripen at the end of summer,
are eaten fresh or dried; they are also used
to make honey. The tree itself is quite
versatile -- its branches being used for
cover (as in the Sukkah), its fibers for rope,
and its trunk for building.

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