Seven Species

The Seven Species have played an important role in the food of the Israelites in the Land of Israel and the religious traditions of Judaism.

Wheat fields, vineyards and olive groves are still a salient feature of the Israeli landscape today.

They probably played a minor part in Israelite cuisine, but were symbolically important, as adornments on the hem of the robe of the high priest and the Temple pillars, and embossed on coinage.

Olive oil was used not only for food and for cooking, but also for lighting, sacrificial offerings, ointment, and anointment for priestly or royal office.

By the time the Talmud was written honey bees were extinct in Israel, and dates were used in place of honey, the excavation of Tel Rehov shows that beekeeping was practiced in Israel in the early Iron Age 3,000 years ago during the time of king David.

For example, the minimum width of Tefillin straps is known by Law given to Moses at Sinai to be the size of a grain of barley.

In halakha (Jewish law), they are considered more important than other fruits, and a special berakhah (blessing) is recited after eating them.