Plants of Passover ‘Bitter is Better’ With Dr Ed Bez Biblical Botanical Gardens Society

General Introduction to Biblical Flora The Bible and its flora The Bible and its flora No flora... no Bible No flora... no Bible The story begins, pivots and ends in a garden The story begins, pivots and ends in a garden Short flora quiz Short flora quiz Biblical flora and its uses Biblical flora and its uses Food and beverage Food and beverage Culinary flavoring Culinary flavoring Medicine and cures Medicine and cures Aromatics – health, wholeness, and well-being Aromatics – health, wholeness, and well-being Mental health, sexual health Mental health, sexual health Clothes - from head to toe Clothes - from head to toe Tools - peaceful and wartime uses Tools - peaceful and wartime uses Ritual Ritual Worship, meals, offerings Worship, meals, offerings Talisman Talisman Aesthetics, design and architecture Aesthetics, design and architecture Metaphors, similes and other literary uses Metaphors, similes and other literary uses

What is Passover? Passover Passover First amongst many First amongst many New beginning (Abib becomes Nisan, our March-April New beginning (Abib becomes Nisan, our March-April Religious and Agricultural calendars Religious and Agricultural calendars Out of Africa Out of Africa Deliverance from Egyptian bondage Deliverance from Egyptian bondage Passover angel – “great” day Passover angel – “great” day Executing angel – “terrible” day or the Day of the Lord Executing angel – “terrible” day or the Day of the Lord Delivery into the Land of Promise Delivery into the Land of Promise Dominion Dominion Domestication Domestication Devotion Devotion

What are the Flora of Passover? Hyssop Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis Sorghum vulgare Gr - hussopos Heb – esob or lit. ‘holy herb’ Used in cleansing, purifying & consecrating sacred places and people Wheat or barley Wheat or barley Grains Triticum durum Hordeum vulgare Unleavened bread or matzah Bitter herbs Bitter herbs

What is the Passover Meal? Specific items on the Seder plate Specific items on the Seder plate Z’roa or shank bone Z’roa or shank bone Beitzah or hard-boiled egg Beitzah or hard-boiled egg Karpas or ‘veggie’ dipped in salt Karpas or ‘veggie’ dipped in salt Chazeret or bitter herb Chazeret or bitter herb Charoset or sweet pebbly mixture Charoset or sweet pebbly mixture Maror or bitter herb Maror or bitter herb 1/3 of meal was comprised of “bitter herbs” 1/3 of meal was comprised of “bitter herbs”

Why Double Bitters? The 1 st maror – Soteriological The 1 st maror – Soteriological Past bitter experiences out of our control Past bitter experiences out of our control Past bitter experiences we brought upon ourselves Past bitter experiences we brought upon ourselves The end of the bitter The end of the bitter The 2 nd maror - Eschatological The 2 nd maror - Eschatological Future bitter end of the ungodly Future bitter end of the ungodly Future end of those that retain bitterness Future end of those that retain bitterness The double bitters – Health and wholeness The double bitters – Health and wholeness

What ‘bitter herbs’ were used for the Passover meal? Hebrew Bible (HB) references Hebrew Bible (HB) references “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Exodus 12:8 “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Exodus 12:8 “The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Numbers 9:11 “The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Numbers 9:11 Lamentations 3:15 Lamentations 3:15 Most ancient species of ‘bitter herbs’ likely included: Most ancient species of ‘bitter herbs’ likely included: Dandelion, Endive, Horehound, Sorrel, Sow-Thistle Dandelion, Endive, Horehound, Sorrel, Sow-Thistle Watercress Watercress Other acceptable Rabbinic ‘bitter herbs’ Other acceptable Rabbinic ‘bitter herbs’ Chicory, Hawkweed, Mint, Wormwood (Lamentations 3:15) Chicory, Hawkweed, Mint, Wormwood (Lamentations 3:15) Most commonly used ‘bitter herb' today Most commonly used ‘bitter herb' today lettuce lettuce horseradish horseradish

“Bitter” the Unwelcome Quality in Today’s Cuisine Modern food groups Modern food groups Meat Meat Dairy Dairy Fruit and vegetables Fruit and vegetables Grains Grains Middle Eastern herbal tradition Middle Eastern herbal tradition Taste is the focus of this ancient “balanced diet” Taste is the focus of this ancient “balanced diet” Sweet Sweet Salty Salty Sour Sour Bitter Bitter

So Why Bitter? Why are some of the most densely nutritious edible herbs so bitter? Why are some of the most densely nutritious edible herbs so bitter? What law of nature is this? What law of nature is this? Sour and bitter foods protect against disease Sour and bitter foods protect against disease The body needs the taste of bitter to stimulate various metabolic processes associated with the liver and digestion. The body needs the taste of bitter to stimulate various metabolic processes associated with the liver and digestion.

Herbs of the Bible Summary Historically, herbs like spices, grains, fruits, flowers and trees are rich in legend, fact, lore, romance, and business. Wars have been fought, trade routes established, lives sold, and cultures and countries founded, all in the name of plants we call herbs. Historically, herbs like spices, grains, fruits, flowers and trees are rich in legend, fact, lore, romance, and business. Wars have been fought, trade routes established, lives sold, and cultures and countries founded, all in the name of plants we call herbs. Biblically, herbs not only titillated the palate but were central elements in worship environments of both the Hebrew and Christian sacred texts. Biblically, herbs not only titillated the palate but were central elements in worship environments of both the Hebrew and Christian sacred texts. Practically, bitters are important to our health and general welfare. Practically, bitters are important to our health and general welfare.

Bitter Herb Gallery Dandelion Dandelion Wormwood Wormwood Chicory Chicory

Bitter Herb Gallery 2 Horseradish Horseradish

Bitter Herb Gallery 3 Endive Endive Horehound Horehound Watercress Watercress

Bitter Herb Gallery 4 Sow Thistle Sow Thistle

Bitter Herb Gallery 5 Sorrel Sorrel

Bitter Herb Galley 6 Hyssop Hyssop