[Avodah] Tzarich Iyun: Using Horseradish for Maror

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 05:37:30PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:
> From http://www.ou.org/torah/article/tzarich_iyun_using_horseradish_for_maror

The Egyptian god of male sexual potency, Min (or Khum) was worshipped
using prickly lettuce (Lactuca virosa and Lactuca serriola). The plants
are tall and have a white sap, so the symbolism for male fertility is
kind of blatant. During the New Kingdom (16th-11th cent BCE), Pharoah
would throw the seeds of these plants into the Nile as part of the
coronation ceremony. (Some suggest other shichvas zera was also involved.)
By most cronologies would include the Par'oh of yetzi'as Mitzrayim.

Min's festival was at grain harvest time, each spring. IOW, the same time
as Pesach.

I would therefore think there is poetic justice in placing a sheep
(either itself sacred to Mitzriyim or sacred due to association with
mazal Nissan) on Min's sacred plant, and turning it into a qorban.

Both lettuces are relatives of modern cultivated lettuces, were generally
eaten, and are particularly bitter. To the American eye, they resemble
huge milkweed/dandilion plants. (Complete with gender-specific flowers,
the pollen-producing yellow "dandilion" looking ones, and the female
cloud of seeds we used to call "blowies" as kids.)

Of the cultivated lettuces, romaine/cos is generally considered (by
lettuce growers with web sites) to be closest to the original. Which
explains its use. But dandilion leaves would probably by closer in
experience.

:-)||ii!
-Micha

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