Israel Speaks
The olive tree is one of Israel's important symbols.
The theme for the country's coat of arms has been taken from the vision
of prophet Zechariah. The vision includes a menorah -
a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple, and
two olive tree branches on the sides.
"I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it
with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it,
one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
Zechariah 4:1-3
Olive groves cover large areas of Israel.
Avner Talmon grows olive trees and produces olive oil in Katzrin
in the Golan Heights. He has established a company in Katzrin
called "The oil press of the Golan".
Olive is also one of the 7 seeds with which God blessed the land of Israel.
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with
brooks, streams, and deep springs gus- hing out into the valleys and hills;
a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates,
olive oil and honey.
Deuteronomy 8:7-8
The fruit of the olive tree is not eaten fresh, but it has to be soaked
in spiced water for several weeks before it will be edible.
The Christian Arab village Meilia is located in Upper-Galilee some 20 km
from the Mediterranean coast.
The Galilee is one of Israel's most important olive cultivation areas.
Shukri Araf has lived in the village already for 79 years.
The people of Meilia have been grow- ing olive trees already for hundreds
of years. Shukri Araf has researched the history of olive farming.
Gathering the olive harvest is such an important event in the farming year
that it has received a special name: Mesic.
It begins in the Fall after the Feast of Tabernacles.
At this time of the year you can see entire families in the olive groves
cheerfully gathering the ripe harvest.
The Qasis family who lives in Meilia has a hundreds of years old oil press
which works in a way originating already from the Biblical times.
When we start the harvest month everyone comes here with his
olive sack.
The donkey circles around the press. When the olives have been smashed
they are put into the press. Oil does not come out of there.
We put all the olives into the press.
When the press is full we start using it.
Then we give all the olive oil to people.
For how many years have you worked here?
Me and my husband have worked here for 20 years.
Did it belong to your family before that?
Yes, it belonged to my husband's father who lived until the age of 108.
When he died I began helping my hus- band as you can see in the photos.
Also our children continue this work.
Now we have finished the olive press and everyone has gone to
his own work.
How many generations have you had?
We are the seventh generation from grandfather to grandfather
all the way to us.
For how many years do you still plan to continue?
God knows. I will continue working as long as I have strength.
In pressing oil a lot of organic waste is being created
which is usually thrown away.
In the course of time olive oil has been used in many ways.
The most important of these is related to temple ceremonies
performed by priests.
"This is what you are to do to conse- crate them, so they may serve me as
priests: Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head."
Exodus 29:1,7
To conclude, the important question: How much olive oil should one eat?
Translation: Sonja Mattayev