The Fig as a Symbol of Peace ✡ "With No One To Disturb Him" - Israel365

But every man shall sit Under his grapevine or fig tree With no one to disturb him. For it was God of Hosts who spoke Micah 4:4 (The Israel Bible™) וְיָשְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחַת גַּפְנוֹ וְתַחַת תְּאֵנָתוֹ וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד כִּי־פִי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת דִּבֵּר Hear the verse in Hebrew va-yash-VU EEsh ta-KHAT gaf-NO ve-ta-KHAT te-ay-NA-to ve-AYN makh-REED kee pee a-do-NAI tze-VA-ot DEE-ber The Fig as a Symbol of Peace During King Shlomo's (Solomon) reign, all of Israel lived in safety, "everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree" (I Kings 5:5). This verse connotes national prosperity and demonstrates that in Biblical tradition, fig trees represent peace and tranquility. In the above verse, the Prophet Micha (Micah) promises the same peace and tranquility in the time of redemption. Continue reading about the symbolism of the fig tree in the Bible

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The Promise of Peace and Tranquility ✡ “Every Man Shall Sit Under His Grapevine Or Fig Tree” - Israel365

"But every man shall sit under his grapevine or fig tree with no one to disturb him. For it was God of Hosts who spoke." (Micah 4:4, The Israel Bible™) "וְיָשְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחַת גַּפְנוֹ וְתַחַת תְּאֵנָתוֹ וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד כִּי־פִי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת דִּבֵּר." (מיכה ד:ד) Micha’s Promise of Peace and Tranquility Figs are one of the seven agricultural species known as the shivat ha-minim that native to the Land of Israel. These seven species are first mentioned in the Torah(Bible) in the beginning of Sefer Bereishit (The Book of Genesis 3:7), when Adam and Eve cover their nakedness with fig leaves. In many ways, the Torah can be compared to a fig tree. Just as one can continuously discover figs on a fig tree since the fruits do not all ripen at the same time, similarly, one will always find new flavor and lessons in the Torah. During King Shlomo’s (King Solomon’s) reign, all of Israel lived in safety, “everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree” (I Kings 5:5), a phrase that indicates national prosperity and calls out the fig tree as a symbol of peace and tranquility. In the above verse, the prophet Micha (Micah) promises peace and tranquility in the Land of Israel in the time of the redemption. Continue reading about the prophecies of Micha >> They are Bereaved, Maimed and Suffering from Post-Trauma Make a gift to restore a child’s broken life - two days left to ensure Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund reaches its goal Donate Now >> URGENT! Create Miracles Out of the Pain Give by January 10 and you gift will be matched $1 for $1. Watch >> Comfort Childhood Victims of Terror & Violence Jews face consistent terror and violence as they try to plant and protect our Biblical heartland Mourn today for those who suffer the most >> If you enjoy your Israel365 daily email newsletter, please consider: DONATING to one of our causes BUYING PRODUCTS from our store STUDYING about the Land and the People of Israel Our Israel365 Store Customers "Todah Rabbah" to Philip O.; Diana F.; Roger R SHOP OUR STORE>> Our Latest Tree Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Peter D.; Debbie W.; Rich G. PLANT OLIVE TREES>> Our Holocaust Campaign Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Daryl B.; Sudha M.; Thomas T. DONATE TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS>> Feature photo by Yehoshua Halevi

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V’ahavta וְאָהַבְתָּ ‘And you shall love’ - "Perspective" Hadassah from Jerusalem

V’ahavta  

וְאָהַבְתָּ    ‘And you shall love’ 

Perspective

Hadassah from Jerusalem

When we first moved back to Israel, we had a small two-bedroom apartment. It was exactly what we wanted and needed at the time. There was a fig tree in our ‘yard’. We say ‘yard’ because it was really only the size of a small bedroom. There used to be an apple tree, but for some reason the landlord saw fit to remove it. That left a massive fig tree surrounded by dirt. Not a very useful area as in the winter it turned into mud and the summer it was full of bugs. So we decided to pave the area to make it more useful.

Having a fruit tree in ones’ yard is a mixed blessing. There is the romantic notion of trotting into the garden, bowl in hand, to pick the morning fare. (We are not especially fond of figs though). The reality is, there is dropped fruit everywhere including on the clean laundry. Dropped fruit means ants and bees and bugs and a funny smell if not cleaned up right away. This tree also had a branch that seemed to always swipe me in the head as I walked by! 

We did not fully understand the ‘gift’ that had been given us. In looking in the Torah, we know that the fig is one of the 7 species of Israel. (Deuteronomy 8:8) There is also a wonderful promise that upon returning to the Land, we will ‘live in houses we did not build and eat from trees we did not plants’. That each of us will invite our neighbor to sit with us under our fig tree-- a picture of dwelling in peace. (Zechariah 3:10). 

Right in front of us, we had the blessing of returning to the Land in the ‘person’ of this fig tree. But we also learned another lesson from our Arab gardener, Ya’acov and our Moroccan Jewish landlord, Pini.

Ya’acov installed tile in our yard. The branch that hangs too low kept clipping him and he saw what a nuisance it can be. He kept wanting to cut it off. Actually, even before putting in the tile when he worked for us he had been bugging us to cut it off. 

One day he came and said that the landlord wanted it cut. We asked him several times if he was sure. We couldn’t imagine Pini doing that as it would be about half of the tree! Our understanding of Hebrew isn’t that bad but I thought I should ask Pini to be certain. 

Sure enough, when we asked Pini about it he said ‘NO! It is a mitzvah to grow this tree! It is one of the Shivat HaMinim! The 7 species’ He went on the show us the others of the 7 species that he was growing in the garden.

As Pini walked away, we were struck by the different perspectives on this tree:

Ours: the fig tree was a bit of a nuisance- messy, bug drawing, sticky mess.

Ya’acov: cutting the fig tree represented a bit of income if he could cut it.

Pini: his fig tree was a mitzvah… an act of obedience to Torah and a Holy work; a blessing and a fulfillment of promises made by God. 

After this, we looked at the fig tree with totally new eyes. I also learned to make jam so we could enjoy the fruit! May we continue to have this kind of ‘seeing’ as we walk this Land of promise.

"Every man will sit under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid; for the Lord Almighty has spoken." Micah 4:4

Nissim & Hadassah

Jerusalem, Israel

Hadassah and Nissim, her accountant husband, live in a settlement just outside Jerusalem with their dog Molly. After making Aliyah (immigrating) from the U.S. with their five children in 1989, they are now semi-retired and open their home to guests and those wishing to make Aliyah. When not busy with their 16 'GrandWonders', they enjoy a quiet life of study, prayer and learning to serve the LORD. 

Hadassah #12 11.04.17

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