At Hameginim (Defenders) Forest close to Tel Gezer, I unfold out a pink checkered picnic blanket on the fringe of a tall inexperienced grain stem. Unpack the thermos stuffed with sourdough bread, white cheese and scorching espresso. Then, sitting with a breakfast picnic takes slightly time for the modifications this forest has undergone over the previous few months. On a sunny day in January, I bear in mind warning my youngsters to not trample on newly sprouted grain buds.
Currently, planted grains are clearly identifiable on this pure path. Today we style the bread and the surroundings. As I stare on the stunning wildflowers and inexperienced grains, I take into consideration the upcoming Passover holidays, also called Chagh Harviv (spring vacation) and Chagh Harat (freedom vacation).
Here within the open air in Israel, these various names for Passover make good sense. It’s clearly spring, as evidenced by the yellow mustard flowers within the mild breeze and the bees bustling among the many aromatic petals. Weaving into the remainder of this forest are purple butterfly orchids, flashy pink poppies and candy white chamomile. There is little question about that. Spring holidays come on the proper time right here in Israel.
The celebration of freedom appears a bit unrelated to Israel’s nice open air. Of course, the primary reason for celebration is the liberty of the nation from Egyptian slaves. But on a deeper degree, we will additionally have fun instantaneous liberation, particular person freedom, and instantaneous liberation from the fixed want for achievement. This kind of human achievement is represented by the cycle of grain progress and bread making. It appears applicable to ponder a picnic of bread on the sting of a wheat discipline in a quiet forest.
Ever since people first started planting and cultivating crops, the breadmaking course of has been one of many cornerstones of civilization. In right now’s world the place bread is mostly thought-about no to eating regimen fairly than as an object of elementary significance to society, we do not assume a lot about this. But earlier than the people planted the fields and baked bread, they had been gathering with hunters. The planting and harvesting of grains allowed us to settle and create civilization. Hameginim Forest – Spring holidays come on the proper time right here in Israel. (Credit: Susanna Sild)
Over the previous few months, I’ve witnessed the lengthy strategy of bread making right here in Haminim Forest. The first step is cultivating and planting the grain. A couple of months later, in April, the tall inexperienced stems listed below are left to dry, so they could be threshed, fought and overwhelmed by positive flour.
In our human originality, grains come again to life once more, with the assistance of untamed or cultivated yeasts. The newly fashioned dough breathes and rises earlier than being uncovered to excessive warmth through the baking course of, ending the grain lifecycle endlessly. Next step: human consumption.
Pause the method
During Passover, we pause this course of in a number of methods. Most clearly, we cease the material from stretching. This represents the second lifetime of grain inside the baking cycle. But we take a break from the uncooked grain merchandise themselves at Passover. The Hadash commandment in Leviticus instructs the Jews to relaxation new grains till the providing of Omah is introduced on the second day of Passover. In truth, within the context of this commandment, the Passover vacation itself known as “Shabat.”
After all, what’s Shabat? On the seventh day, after an extended week of creation, God took slightly time to cease and luxuriate in. During our personal bread manufacturing, from kernels to crusty bread, we have to take a break and emulate God with the remainder of ourselves. Passover is that relaxation.
For fashionable people, pausing time from the passionate tempo of manufacturing is a crucial a part of dwelling a contented life. Going out into the character of Israel is an effective way to just do that. It’s about slowing down, meditating on the great thing about nature, or just pondering the glory and magnificence of homeland.
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There is not any higher alternative to go open air than Passover, Spring Holidays, Freedom Holidays. After all, one of many crucial qualities of our slavery in Egypt was the shortcoming to spend time on ourselves. The request for a three-day break within the desert was the supply of competitors between the pharaohs and the Jews when our lives belonged to the Egyptian Taskmaster.
Now in our hometown, we will have fun our free vacation on a private degree by smelling the flowers of spring on the attractive nature trails of Israel.