Foraging is Finished
The winter rains are here, and this is what they mean for us. Plus: new topic coming next week, and links to recent podcasts.
Dear Healthy Jew,
Finally, hopefully, winter has arrived in Israel.
We’ve had some rain, and that’s a big deal.
As I wrote in my book, Land of Health, rain expresses Israel’s spiritual archetype: the flow of life descending from heaven to earth. That’s why, in the winter months, praying for rain becomes a central part of the Amidah service.
Even in the age of desalination, rain remains essential to most of Israel’s natural world, that is everyone except humans. This past foraging season we saw the effects of last year’s near-drought: plants were fewer and shorter, and most species dried up a month earlier than the previous year.
This year’s rains have also begun late, but there’s still plenty of time to turn things around. We just need to care and to pray.
For now, though, foraging is finished. As I also explain in my book, all life is born from death, because life is the unfolding of potential that was previously closed. Now is the time to sit back and watch the natural world die and rot. There’s nothing broken to fix; the world will be reborn in a few short months. (If the rains continue, the foraging season will begin late January.)
Perhaps the death in the air is why so many people fall ill in winter. Illness, as I’ve written before in these pages, is a small piece of death, while healing is a return to life’s fullness. Life and death exist on a single spectrum.
But we’re not doomed to a winter of flu. Even those with weaker immune systems can make choices that lead to healthier winters.
In my own experience, I used to be sick half the season. Outdoor exercise changed everything for me. Especially in winter, hiking and running even on the coldest weather keeps me well. When I face the world in all its moods, the world smiles back. (I’ve written about that too here.)
So next week, as we enter the depths of the winter, we’ll begin a fascinating new series on running. I’ll start by sharing a post from one of my favorite Substack newsletters, The Half Marathoner by Terrell Johnson, which recently featured an interview with me about my personal running story.
In the following weeks, we’ll explore how to become a runner. It’s simple, and most Healthy Jews — yes, probably even you — can do it.
You’re worth it.
Before signing off today, I want to share two recent podcasts I joined as a guest:
Episode 1: Recorded during IDF boot camp, about my decision to enlist and my first experiences there.
Episode 2: A wide-ranging discussion about my vision and mission at Healthy Jew, a great introduction to the ideas I’ve been sharing with you each week for nearly three years.
Enjoy, and stay healthy.
Thank you for reading Healthy Jew.
Continue the journey at healthyjew.org:
Subscribe (free or paid) to the Healthy Jew newsletter
Explore hundreds of previous posts
Join foraging walks in the Land of Israel
Read my book, Land of Health: Israel’s War for Wellness
Reach out through my contact info for questions, complaints, or comments
Be well,
Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman
Please note: All content published on Healthy Jew is for informational and educational purposes only. Talk to a qualified professional before taking any action or substance that you read about here.