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    • Discover Israel’s native trees on the hiking trails
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    Discover Israel’s native trees on the hiking trails

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    Visitors and newcomers to Israel quickly notice one thing in the Holy Land: There aren’t many trees. Or at least not many real trees, the giant ones that many of us grew up with.

    I remember the summer of 2003 when we emigrated from the United States to the hot city of Ramat Beit Shemesh. The lack of trees was quite striking to me then, as I pushed a double stroller down the hilly sidewalks on uncomfortably sunny days. As we walked, we darted from one patch of shade to the next, seeking any relief we could find under the small trees that lined the sidewalk.

    Back then, I longed for the magnificent, towering oaks of New Orleans and the oversized magnolia trees with their white, fragrant blossoms. Although the plentiful shade in my hometown didn’t offer much protection from the sweltering heat, it did feel cooler there.

    Appreciating trees takes time

    I lived and traveled around Israel for about 20 years before I really appreciated Israel’s native trees and their excellent characteristics adapted to the local climate. In this land of wet and dry seasons, oversized trees need too much water to survive. The low, shrubby forests native to Israel are less vulnerable to drought and fire, the usual hazards of long, hot Israeli summers.

    Yatir Forest (Source: KKL-JNF)

    Middle Eastern trees are mentioned frequently in the Bible. Two of the most common trees in Israel are the oak and the terebinth, which are called elon and elah in Hebrew (both have the same root el, meaning God). Although the name oak conjures up images of a giant tree for Americans, the trees of Israel are small but stately. With their large crowns and dangling vines, these beautiful trees are a perfect place to rest in the shade on hot and sunny days. Perhaps this is why Abraham sat in the heat of the day in Alonei Mamrei… k’hom hayom, in an oak grove, when he greeted three angelic visitors. (Genesis 18:1)

    The terebinth (elah), on the other hand, is more of a tangled, oversized bush than a shade tree; it grows in abundance throughout the land of Israel, especially in the Valley of Elah near Jerusalem, where David and Goliath fought their famous battle. When you come across the scrubby terebinth in Israel’s nature, you can almost imagine the later story of the wild Avshalom, whose long hair got caught in an elah tree and remained there during the battle.

    I think my favorite tree in Israel is the carob tree, a species I used to not be very fond of. When I was younger, carob was often sold as a chocolate alternative, but my childish taste buds, familiar with Hershey’s, were not fooled. Before I moved to Israel, carob was definitely not one of my favorite trees.

    Picnic in the shade

    As an avid hiker with young boys, I just love these trees. We seek them out when we hike on hot days; their tall, flat canopies provide shade big enough for a relaxed picnic—plaid blanket, iced coffee, and all. Our boys love to climb carob trees while we eat, finding secure footing on the sturdy, low branches. And when they reach the outer branches of the treetops, the boys pick the carob pods, break them open, and suck out the sweet juice. There’s nothing like discovering free food (which is definitely not chocolate) to brighten up a morning outdoors.

    Although carob trees are ubiquitous in Israel today, they are not mentioned at all in the Bible. It is only in the literature of the Mishnah era that we come across this fruit-bearing tree. It is generally believed that the carob tree was imported from other countries during the Second Temple period.

    One tree that has obvious significance throughout biblical literature is the fig tree. Fig leaves have evoked images of makeshift clothing since the Garden of Eden. Later, the fig tree was a biblical symbol of abundance and prosperity. These trees grow almost spontaneously in Israel wherever there is a spring or stream. One can usually find hidden springs by looking for green fig branches growing out of otherwise barren soil. With their tremendous thirst for fresh water, the presence of fig trees indicates ideal living conditions in this climate.

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    Figs are one of the seven biblical species of Israel. I never had fresh figs as a child, and the dried ones didn’t appeal to me much either. It’s funny how time and experience can change a person. After years of wandering around Israel, I look forward to the ripening figs all summer long. In late summer and early fall, we follow our noses along the trails until we find the next tree with fragrant purple or green fruit. Even my children love the taste of sweet figs, fresh from the tree.

    Today, I no longer think of Israel as a land without trees. Instead, I finally understand that every climate has its own beauty. The trees in this country may not be as huge as in other parts of the world – but they have the unique ability to bring the images, feelings and moods of biblical stories to life.



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    Eira Gwyneth
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