Wild Fennel and Saltbush Shouldn't Grow Together
But here they are—in the Purah Reserve, where Israel’s fertile hills meet the desert.
Dear Healthy Jew,
Several weeks ago I shared with you about the Purah Nature Reserve, a beautiful area at the border of Israel’s fertile Shfela region and the arid Negev desert. Places like these blend in perfect balance the landscapes of 3 continents, expressing the Land of Israel’s powers of harmony, health, healing, and hope.
When I was visiting the area recently, I experienced in a new way how Israel’s edible wild plants tell the story of our living Land.
You might recognize these flowers as wild fennel - one of the highlights of the summer foraging season that’s beginning around now. This is one of Israel’s most common wild plants - outside of the desert, that is. Besides a delicious anise-like taste, fennel makes an excellent herbal tea for digestive problems.
And then, just several feet up the trail - actually walking north, away from the Negev - I came across this thriving saltbush, by far the most common edible plant in the desert. Saltbush is called saltbush because its leaves taste distinctly salty, often with a little crunch. Yum!
Welcome to Israel, the Land of Health.
May our nation and land find peace, prosperity, and unity.
Let’s go foraging, maybe even in the Purah Reserve!? (Warning: it’s hot there in the summer. Most folks prefer now a late afternoon hike closer to the Bet Shemesh area.)
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Be well,
Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman
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