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The [[olive tree]] and its oil have been major components in the [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|History of Ancient Israel]] and the [[Jewish people]] since millennia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mandel |first=Scott |url=https://books.google.de/books?id=j5Z2wvyHsPEC&pg=PA56&dq=olive+trees+judaism&hl=de&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsi9ry5JSHAxXMBdsEHfvaAe0Q6wF6BAgMEAU#v=onepage&q=olive%20trees%20judaism&f=false |title=Wired Into Judaism: The Internet and Jewish Education |date=2000 |publisher=Behrman House, Inc |isbn=978-0-86705-049-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-08 |title=The land of Israel and Olive trees – Israel for Tourists |url=https://israelfortourists.com/the-land-of-israel-and-olive-trees/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Halfin |first=Jessica |date=2017-11-22 |title=Rediscovering Israel's ancient olive industry |url=https://www.israel21c.org/rediscovering-israels-ancient-olive-industry/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=ISRAEL21c |language=en-US}}</ref> It's often mentioned in [[Judaism|Jewish religious text's]] symbolizing tpeace<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=The Olive Tree: A Symbol of Peace and Hope in the Holy Land |url=https://blestart.com/blogs/news/the-olive-tree-a-symbol-of-peace-and-hope-in-the-holy-land |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Blest Art, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quotes from the Jewish Bible about Peace |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/quotes-from-the-jewish-bible-about-peace/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US}}</ref>, prosperity, wisdom<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tzvi |date=2016-12-18 |title=17 Amazing Facts about Olives |url=https://aish.com/17-amazing-facts-about-olives/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Aish.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and divine blessing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLancey |first=Dr John |date=2016-11-23 |title=The Olive & Its Harvest |url=https://biblicalisraeltours.com/2016/11/the-olive-harvest/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Biblical Israel Tours |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olive Tree Symbolism |url=https://israelolivebond.com/the-olive-tree/symbolism-of-the-olive-tree/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |language=en}}</ref> It had a key role in the [[Agriculture|agricultural]] life, industry and religious practices in [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|ancient Israel]] and [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]].
The [[olive tree]] and its oil have been major components in the [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|History of Ancient Israel]] and the [[Jewish people]] since millennia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mandel |first=Scott |url=https://books.google.de/books?id=j5Z2wvyHsPEC&pg=PA56&dq=olive+trees+judaism&hl=de&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsi9ry5JSHAxXMBdsEHfvaAe0Q6wF6BAgMEAU#v=onepage&q=olive%20trees%20judaism&f=false |title=Wired Into Judaism: The Internet and Jewish Education |date=2000 |publisher=Behrman House, Inc |isbn=978-0-86705-049-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-08 |title=The land of Israel and Olive trees – Israel for Tourists |url=https://israelfortourists.com/the-land-of-israel-and-olive-trees/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Halfin |first=Jessica |date=2017-11-22 |title=Rediscovering Israel's ancient olive industry |url=https://www.israel21c.org/rediscovering-israels-ancient-olive-industry/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=ISRAEL21c |language=en-US}}</ref> It's often mentioned in [[Judaism|Jewish religious text's]] symbolizing peace<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=The Olive Tree: A Symbol of Peace and Hope in the Holy Land |url=https://blestart.com/blogs/news/the-olive-tree-a-symbol-of-peace-and-hope-in-the-holy-land |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Blest Art, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quotes from the Jewish Bible about Peace |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/quotes-from-the-jewish-bible-about-peace/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US}}</ref>, prosperity, wisdom<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tzvi |date=2016-12-18 |title=17 Amazing Facts about Olives |url=https://aish.com/17-amazing-facts-about-olives/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Aish.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and blessing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLancey |first=Dr John |date=2016-11-23 |title=The Olive & Its Harvest |url=https://biblicalisraeltours.com/2016/11/the-olive-harvest/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Biblical Israel Tours |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olive Tree Symbolism |url=https://israelolivebond.com/the-olive-tree/symbolism-of-the-olive-tree/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |language=en}}</ref> It had a key role in the [[Agriculture|agricultural]] life, industry and religious practices in [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|ancient Israel]] and [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]].


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 15:27, 10 July 2024

The olive tree and its oil have been major components in the History of Ancient Israel and the Jewish people since millennia.[1][2][3] It's often mentioned in Jewish religious text's symbolizing peace[4][5], prosperity, wisdom[6] and blessing.[7][8] It had a key role in the agricultural life, industry and religious practices in ancient Israel and Judah.

History

The olive tree is native to Israel.[9][10][11] The cultivation of olive trees was important in the agricultural life in the Land of Israel and started over 7000 years ago (Neolithic period).[12][13][14] An oil press that is considered the oldest in the world was discovered in an underwater excavation near Haifa, and it is dated to the Chalcolithic period[15] Pottery containing olive pits, remnants of olives and olive presses discovered on archaeological sites region provide evidence of early olive oil production.[16][17][18] During the ~8th-7th centuries BCE, the olive oil industry experienced a boom in mass production across the israelite Kingdoms[19][20][21][22][23]

In the Kingdom of Israel, industrial villages dedicated to oil production, likely under royal patronage, were established.[24][25][26]These villages housed dozens of presses, exemplified by discoveries at sites such as Khirbet Khadash. [27][28][29] Olives in general were used as a source of food, light, hygiene and healing.[30][31] Israelite and later Judean populations were mostly planting the trees in the Galilee, Judea and Samaria[32][33][34][35][36]

In Judaism, Jewish tradition and culture

The Olive Tree is one of the most important trees in Judaism and Jewish culture.[37][38][39][40][41] They are a sign of jewish rootedness to their historic land.[42] Olives are a part of the Seven Species and were and still are used in the Ancient Israelite and modern Israeli/Jewish cuisine.[43][44]

The seven species on israeli stamps
The Seven Species with associated Biblical verse depicted on a set of Israeli stamps issued in 1958
  • In the Holy Jewish Temple, olive trees, olive oil, and olives played significant roles in various aspects of religious rituals and practices. Olive oil was crucial for lighting the Menorah inside the Temple. The Menorah was a central fixture in the Temple's sanctuary, symbolizing light and divine presence. Pure olive oil was used to keep the Menorah burning continuously.[45]
  • On Tu BiShvat, the Jewish holiday known as the New Year for Trees, olive trees hold a special significance along with other fruit-bearing trees.[46] Olive trees are among the seven species (shiv'at haminim) that are traditionally associated with the Land of Israel's fertility and abundance.[47][48][49][50]
  • Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Seleucid Empire. According to Jewish tradition, during the Maccabean Revolt, only a small amount of pure olive oil sufficient for one day's lighting of the Menorah miraculously lasted for eight days until new oil could be prepared. This miracle is celebrated as a symbol of divine intervention and perseverance.[51][52]
  • Following the Great Flood, Noah sent out birds from the ark to check if the waters had receded. First, he sent a raven, but it found no place to rest and returned. Then, he sent a dove, but it also came back. On the 301st day of the flood, Noah sent the dove again.[53] This time, the dove stayed away all day and returned in the evening with an olive leaf in its mouth. Noah then knew that the waters had abated from the earth.[54][55][56]

In Israel today

The olive tree branches are depicted on the Emblem of the State of Israel and the insignia of the Israel Defence Forces (Incl. The Military Rabbinate).[57]

Olives are one of the most important fruits grown in Israel.[58] Scattered throughout Israel’s verdant olive plantations, one can also find old olive trees, some of which have stood for centuries. These trees can be found in various regions, from the elevated mountain areas to the coastal plains. The landscape is adorned with 210,000 dunams (52,500 acres) of olive plantations. These expansive groves are home to a variety of olive types. Among the most common varieties found in Israeli plantations are Zuri, Barnea, Manzanillo, Picual, Muhasan, Nabali, Picholine, and Maalot.[59]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mandel, Scott (2000). Wired Into Judaism: The Internet and Jewish Education. Behrman House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-86705-049-3.
  2. ^ "The land of Israel and Olive trees – Israel for Tourists". 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  3. ^ Halfin, Jessica (2017-11-22). "Rediscovering Israel's ancient olive industry". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  4. ^ "The Olive Tree: A Symbol of Peace and Hope in the Holy Land". Blest Art, Inc. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ "Quotes from the Jewish Bible about Peace". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  6. ^ Tzvi (2016-12-18). "17 Amazing Facts about Olives". Aish.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  7. ^ DeLancey, Dr John (2016-11-23). "The Olive & Its Harvest". Biblical Israel Tours. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  8. ^ "Olive Tree Symbolism". Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  9. ^ Wiesman, Zeev (2009-06-24). Desert Olive Oil Cultivation: Advanced Bio Technologies. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-08-092142-6.
  10. ^ Garfinkel, Eli L. (June 2021). The JPS Jewish Heritage Torah Commentary. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8276-1267-9.
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  12. ^ "Israeli researchers discover olive trees were domesticated 7,000 years ago". I24news. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  13. ^ "Study: World's first cultivated fruit trees planted 7000 years ago in jordan valley". The Times of Israel.
  14. ^ "Israeli study shows olive trees were domesticated in Jordan Valley 7,000 years ago". The Jerusalem Post. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  15. ^ Choufan, Matan (2022-01-03). "A Brief History of Olives and Olive Oil in Israel". Asif. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  16. ^ Rubin, Deborah (2021-01-15). "Olive trees have long history in israel". www.jewishindependent. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  17. ^ Brown, William. "Ancient Israelite Technology". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  18. ^ "Evidence of olive consumption 6600 years ago found off coast of haifa". THE TIMES OF ISRAEL.
  19. ^ Maeir, Aren M.; Welch, Eric L.; Eniukhina, Maria (2021-04-03). "A Note on Olive Oil Production in Iron Age Philistia: Pressing the consensus". Palestine Exploration Quarterly. 153 (2): 129–144. doi:10.1080/00310328.2020.1852795. ISSN 0031-0328.
  20. ^ Faust, Avraham. "Faust, A., 2011, The Interests of the Assyrian Empire in the West: Olive Oil Production as a Test-Case, Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 54: 62-86". Academia.edu.
  21. ^ "Even after Assyria won, Judeans produced olive oil in biblical Shephelah". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  22. ^ Lipschits, Oded; Blenkinsopp, Joseph (2003). Judah and the Judeans in the Neo-Babylonian Period. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 978-1-57506-073-6.
  23. ^ Eitam, David (2002), Institut de recherche et d'histoire des textes; Centre de recherche sur les collections; Équipe Étude des pigments, histoire et archéologie (eds.), "Textile and olive oil production in ancient Israel during the Iron Age period", Pigments et colorants de l’Antiquité et du Moyen Âge : Teinture, peinture, enluminure, études historiques et physico-chimiques, Colloques Internationaux du CNRS, Paris: CNRS Éditions, pp. 283–290, ISBN 978-2-271-09089-8, retrieved 2024-07-10
  24. ^ "Stone Tools in the Ancient Near East and Egypt" (PDF). Archaeopress.
  25. ^ Roberts, Peter (2006). HSC Ancient History. Pascal Press. ISBN 978-1-74125-178-4.
  26. ^ "Hudas Beit Aryeh a Royal Olive Oil Production Center in the Kingdom of Israel". www.researchgate.net.
  27. ^ Jaruzelska, Izabela (1998). Amos and the Officialdom in the Kingdom of Israel: The Socio-economic Position of the Officials in the Light of the Biblical, the Epigraphic and Archaeological Evidence. Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu. ISBN 978-83-232-0910-2.
  28. ^ Squitieri, Andrea; Eitam, David (2019-01-31). Stone Tools in the Ancient Near East and Egypt: Ground stone tools, rock-cut installations and stone vessels from Prehistory to Late Antiquity. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78969-061-3.
  29. ^ "David Eitam - Academia.edu". independent.academia.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  30. ^ "Israeli olive oil from Biblical times to today". HoliveOil. 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  31. ^ "Household food storage in Ancient Israel and Judah" (PDF). Archaeopress.
  32. ^ "Lessons from the Olive Tree". www.pray4zion.org. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  33. ^ "Olives in Jewish Texts, Oded Schwartz". www.gemsinisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  34. ^ "Olive Culture in Ancient Israel, David Eitam, Israel". www.gemsinisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  35. ^ "Olive Oil in Antiquity Israel and Neighboring Countries from the Neolthic to the Early Arab Period". www.researchgate.net.
  36. ^ Barstad, Hans M. (2008). History and the Hebrew Bible: Studies in Ancient Israelite and Ancient Near Eastern Historiography. Mohr Siebeck. ISBN 978-3-16-149809-1.
  37. ^ "10 Historic Trees in the Torah". Chabad.org.
  38. ^ Wilson, Marvin R. (1989). Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-0423-5.
  39. ^ Israel, Touchpoint (2014-08-15). "Israel's Love Affair with the Olive Tree". Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  40. ^ "Olive Tree | My Tree in Israel". www.mytree.org.il. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  41. ^ Antica, Cagliari (30 September 2015). "The olive tree symbol of Judaism". THE MENORAH NEWS. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  42. ^ Dodson, Bob (2010-06-04). "The Olive Tree: Our Jewish Roots". Acts 242 Study. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  43. ^ "The Olive Tree: A Symbol" (PDF).
  44. ^ "The Seven Species". Bridges for Peace. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  45. ^ "The Olive Oil Paradigm: Tetzaveh - Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue". www.betalef.org. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  46. ^ "Tu B'Shevat". www.mandelljcc.org. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  47. ^ JosephineA (2023-02-02). "The olive tree in holidays and festivals". Israel Report. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  48. ^ World, Special to People’s (2022-01-21). "Interfaith Tu B'Shvat seder for peace features Jewish and Arab voices". People's World. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  49. ^ "Tu Bishvat: The Trees of Israel". Immanuel-tours.com.
  50. ^ Goor, Asaph (1965). "The History of the Fig in the Holy Land from Ancient Times to the Present Day". Economic Botany. 19 (2): 124–135. ISSN 0013-0001.
  51. ^ "Olives -- the fruit of light and metaphor". Jewcology. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  52. ^ "Hanukkah: A Celebration of New Oil". www.aboutoliveoil.org. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  53. ^ "Israeli Symbols". www.hebrewlessonsonline.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  54. ^ "Why Is the Olive Branch a Symbol of Peace". www.chabad.org.
  55. ^ Reich, Rabbi Naftali (2020-10-21). "The Sign of the Olive". Torah.org. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  56. ^ "The Symbolism of the Olive Tree in the Jewish Faith - Sponsor an Olive Tree in Israel". 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  57. ^ Weinberg, Josh (2023-06-08). "The Menorah and the Olive Branch – ARZA". Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  58. ^ "The Olive Tree Road of Israel: Israel's secret UNESCO treasure". The Jerusalem Post. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  59. ^ "Olive - Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael". KKL-JNF. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
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