Simon Says: "Let's discover more about the olive tree"

The Olive Tree 

The olive tree is the national tree of Israel, chosen in a public vote in 2021. A powerful symbol of peace, longevity, wisdom, & vitality, it represents & the deep-rooted connection of the Jewish people to The Land.

An olive branch was famously carried by the dove to Noah after the Great Flood.

The image above is of the Jewish cemetery on The Mount of Olives, (Har HaZeitim), the oldest & most significant Jewish cemetery in the world, with an estimated 150,000 graves. Burials have taken place here for over 3,000 years.

The Mount of Olives is referenced in Tanach, notably in Samuel, Kings, Zechariah & Ezekiel. According to Jewish tradition, the Messianic era & the resurrection of the dead will start here. 

We can identify burial caves from the First Temple period & tombs from the Second Temple era, including: Zechariah, Absalom, Benei Hezir (a priestly family), Eliezer Ben Yehuda - reviver of spoken Hebrew, Henrietta Szold (founder of Hadassah), Menachem Begin (Israeli Prime Minister), Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, Shmuel Yosef Agnon (Nobel Prize laureate), parents of Rav Ovadia Yosef. In addition, many victims of 1920s & 1930s Arab massacres against the Jews are buried here.

The olive is mentioned multiple times in the Bible as one of the 7 special species of The Land - along with wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates & honey - & is an integral part of the Israeli landscape & economy, with its oil used for cooking, medicine, lighting the Temple Menorah & more. Its image  features on national symbols, such as the Emblem of the State of Israel. 

Olive trees thrive in Israel’s Mediterranean climate - dry summers, mild winters & rocky soils. From the Galilee to the Judean Hills, their silvery leaves are part of the landscape.

🕊️ The olive tree appears throughout Jewish & Christian texts as a symbol of peace, blessing & steadfastness. Below you can see some of the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Gethsemane means "olive press" reflecting the garden's historical use for oil production; some of the trees here are estimated to be over 2,000 years old.

🌱 Olive trees grow slowly but live for centuries. Even when the trunk dies, new shoots (known as suckers) rise from the roots. They rely on the wind for pollination, though bees & insects still visit them for the nectar-rich wildflowers often growing nearby.

🫒 Olives are harvested for food & for Israel’s renowned olive oil - used in modern kitchens & as natural remedies, soaps. Picking, pressing & curing olives remains a seasonal celebration in many villages.

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I’m a history graduate & a licensed tour guide [license #14775] with many years experience driving & guiding all over Israel, & am an accredited guide for Israel’s National Parks.

I’ve also been certified as the Amazon Tour Guide for online virtual tours in Israel - as well as being a coach tour guide for cruise ship passengers coming into Haifa & Ashdod.

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