KKL-JNF Forests: A Tree for Every Month

	The olive tree and olives are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, in both the New and Old Testaments, as well as in the Quran. Its first mention is in Genesis, when Noah sent forth the dove to see if the flood had ended: “And the dove came in to him at eventide; and lo in her mouth an olive-leaf freshly plucked; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.” Genesis 8, 11. In Deuteronomy it is listed with the seven species that represent the goodness of the land: “…a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey” Deuteronomy 8, 8. There are many other mentions of olives in biblical sources, always in positive contexts. Top

	The city of Athens, capital of Greece, is named for the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. According to Greek Mythology, Poseidon, god of the sea and Athena, disputed over whose name would be given to a newly built city, in the land of Attica. To end the dispute, Zeus, king of the gods, decided that the city would be named after the one who offered the most precious gift to the citizens. Poseidon struck his trident on a rock and salt water began to flow. Athena struck her spear on the ground and it turned into an olive tree that provided shade, olives and oil. The people of the city voted for Athena and the city was duly named for her. Top

	The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and its high content of anti-oxidative substances. This is particularly true for Extra-Virgin olive oil (from the first pressing). Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. Olive oil is very well tolerated by the stomach, and has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Top

	Olive oil is considered the highest quality and healthiest of the edible oils, and today with the rising interest in living healthy, is becoming more and more popular. It is also used in the cosmetics industry as the basis for many products. In the past it was used for lighting, for anointing kings, as well as in religious ceremonies Top

	How long have we had olive trees in Israel? Pollen of wild olives was found in sediments 30,000 years old, and olive wood remains were found in layers 45,000 years old in the Negev Highlands. Archeological remains indicate that olives were cultivated in Israel as far back as the Chalcolithic period (6000-7000 years ago). It is difficult to tell the age of existing ancient olive trees – the standard method of counting tree rings cannot be applied to olive trees, as the center of the trunk is always hollow due to natural decay. The olive is included in the seven kinds (shiv’at haminim) with which the Land of Israel was blessed in the Bible. It has been extensively cultivated and played a major role in the economy and culture of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Consequently, it is now difficult to determine which trees are wild and which originate from cultivated strains, or if there are any wild olives in Israel at all. The Europeans introduced the olive to the New World, and its cultivation began in Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina, and then in the 18th century in California. It is estimated that there are about 800 million olive trees in the world today, most of which are found in Mediterranean countries.

	Since the dove returned to Noah’s ark with an olive branch in its beak, the olive has become the symbol of peace. The symbol of the State of Israel is entirely based on an olive theme: two olive branches flanking a menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum once lit with olive oil in the Jerusalem Temple). Top

	The olive tree is a very hardy species that is resistant to drought, disease and fire and has a long life-span. It has a root system that is both wide and deep allowing it to thrive with no irrigation even in the dry Mediterranean region. Thanks to their tolerance to high levels of salinity in groundwater, olive trees can be found growing even close to the sea. Top

	In Israel olives begin ripening in September. The fleshy fruit is green at first, and later turns black and shiny. The olives we eat are picked at the green stage, when they are unripe, and go through a long pickling process. When the olive ripens, and its pulp contains 20-38% fat, it is used to produce olive oil. Top

	Pictures