[Avodah] study group: Israeli Agricultural heritage knoweldge in Jewish sources

[Shoshana L. Boublil]

As part of my studies in environmental studies, I am starting a study group
on the following topic:

 

"Israeli agricultural heritage knowledge in Jewish sources"

 

The topic includes collecting/collating the knowledge of Israeli
agricultural practices that is recorded in the Torah, Mishna, G'mara etc.

 

For example: 

 

In mishna Bikkurim they discuss the fact that you are not allowed to bring
Bikkurim prior to Shavu'ot.

 

When discussing Bikkurim with modern day agricultural experts and botanists,
they doubted that it was possible to bring Bikkurim on Shavu'ot itself, b/c
most of the 7 minim (except for wheat and barley) have fruit, in most of
Israel, at least 1-2 months later.

 

In mishna Bikkurim they bring a story to illustrate the halacha that it is
not allowed to bring Bikkurim prior to Shavu'ot:

One year the people of Har Tzevo'im brought Bikkurim prior to Shavu'ot and
they were not accepted and had to turn back.

 

What we learn here is that there was at least one area in historic Israel
that had fruits that were ripe enough to bring for Bikkurim even prior to
Shavu'ot.  

[Har Tzevo'im is probably the area known today as Wadi Kelt on the border of
the Judean Desert].

 

The meetings will take place once a month, probably in Ramat Gan.

 

If there is sufficient interest, it would be possible to use an online video
conferencing medium.

 

Depending on the participants, the meetings will be conducted in Hebrew.

 

Shoshana L. Boublil

Ramat Gan, Israel

 

 

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