{"id":4489,"date":"2025-02-14T12:22:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T12:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.takemeon.org\/dir\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2025-02-15T05:42:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T05:42:23","slug":"jewish-tree-ceremonies-fertility-rituals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.takemeon.org\/dir\/2025\/02\/14\/jewish-tree-ceremonies-fertility-rituals\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewish Tree Ceremonies & Fertility Rituals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On this full moon \ud83c\udf15 of Sh\u2019vat, 5785 \u2013 Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the Trees \u2013 take an Indigenous \ud83c\udf33\ud83d\udd4e\ud83e\udeac lesson from our Kurdish \ud83c\udf33\u2600\ufe0f\ud83e\udeac historian brother. Himdad Mustafa teaches Jewish fertility tree rituals in Kurdistan :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Himdad<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA wonderful example of the use of trees \ud83c\udf33 in fertility rituals in Kurdistan is the D\u0101r Aw\u016bs \u2018Pregnant Tree\u2019 rituals among the Jews (before the 1950s) and the Kurds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tu B\u2019Shvat, the Jewish holiday known as the \u2018New Year for the Trees,\u2019 observed on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, Jewish women engaged in a variety of magical customs and fertility rituals. These rituals rooted in folk beliefs that the destinies of women and trees were intertwined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if it rained or snowed, women believed that the trees had undergone a symbolic immersion in the mikveh ritual bath, making them capable of bearing fruit. This was seen as a positive sign for the women\u2019s own fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To boost their chances of conceiving, women struggling with infertility would embrace fruit trees at night to encourage the fertility of the tree to pass on to them. They would also scatter raisins and sweets around the trees, with the intention of enhancing both their own fertility and that of the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A special poem was recited as part of these rituals, which goes as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pregnant tree, you shall not conceive.
I shall conceive with this intent.
This year my body will be filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or another version:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh tree, your pregnancy to me and mine to you
This year I shall conceive.
Just as you give fruit
So shall I give fruit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Tu B\u2019Shvat the Jews exchanged bowls filled with thirty assorted fruits, adhering to the tradition of consuming a wide variety of fruits. The Kurds also joined in this custom by sending fruits to their Jewish neighbors believing that the Jewish benedictions will have a favorable effect on the fruit trees, the Jews believed that their benedictions would \u2018impregnate\u2019 the trees on this night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These fertility rituals have survived in some rural areas where both pregnant and barren women tie handkerchiefs and scarves known as M\u0113l\u016b to a sacred tree, then they consume the fruit that drops from the tree, believing it enhances fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo credit Madeh Piryonesi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FYI, Jews have lived in Kurdistan for 2,800 years until a mass migration to Israel in the 1950s. This Jewish community\u2019s ancient roots and relative seclusion in the Kurdistan region fostered unique indigenous religious, cultural, and linguistic practices. \u2013 https:\/\/jwa.org\/encyclopedia\/article\/kurdish-women<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brauer, E. (1993). The Jews of Kurdistan, ed. Patai, Raphael. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p.341.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sered, S. S. (1996). \u201cThe Religious World of Jewish Women in Kurdistan.\u201d In Jews among Muslims: Communities in the Precolonial Middle East, eds. Deshen, Sh., Zenner, W. P. New York: New York University Press. pp.197\u2013214.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben-Ami, I. (1993). \u201cCustoms of Pregnancy and Childbirth among Sephardic and Oriental Jews.\u201d In New Horizons in Sephardic Studies, eds. Stillman Y.K., Zucker, G.K. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 253\u2013267. Esp., p.255. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kurdish historian Himdad Mustafa explains\u2026 (and his post gets\u2026?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf33 Tu BiShvat \ud83c\udf33 ( \u05d8\u05f4\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d8 \u05ea\u05e9\u05e4\u05f4\u05d4 ) begins on Wed, 12 February 2025 after sunset = 15th of Sh\u2019vat, 5785<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"JIMENA<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More teaching (in above snapshot and below) from JIMENA \u2013 Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa \u2013 on this full moon \ud83c\udf15 of Sh\u2019vat, 5785 \u2013 Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the Trees \u2013 get your Indigenous \ud83c\udf33\ud83d\udd4e\ud83e\udeac learning on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tu BiShvat is an ancient Jewish \ud83d\udd4e\ud83e\udeac celebration known as the New Year of the Trees \ud83c\udf33\ud83c\udf33\ud83c\udf33 that is firmly rooted in the Canaan land of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally marking the start of the agricultural cycle for trees, this month of Shevat fertility ritual has evolved into an indigenous ceremony that celebrates nature, environmental awareness, and the enduring Jewish connection to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chag Tu BiShvat Sameach! Now, go plant some trees \ud83c\udf33\ud83c\udf33\ud83c\udf33 !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Minions
The sharks represent the still surviving Indigenous peoples, like the Jewish people of the Canaan land of Israel \ud83e\udeac\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\u270a\ud83c\udffc . The minions shaped into a violently racist \u262a\ufe0f\u262d\u271d\ufe0f anti-Indigenous shark eating force are the reason that there is no peace upon planet Earth anywhere!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The last thing that the white, brown, and black Colonists for whatever Colonial religion \u271d\ufe0f\u262a\ufe0f\u262d and citizens of Colonist nations want to see is a fully liberated, decolonised, and self-sovereign \u2013 even though, historically oppressed \u2013 Indigenous nation actually thriving upon planet Earth \ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf0e in self-determining PEACE and SECURITY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This BOTH threatens the future of European and Arab settler Colonialism AND forces an actual CHANGE in worldwide social narratives and systemic understanding of our shared planet Earth \ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf0e. The presence of equally powerful, prosperous, and modern Indigenous nations \u2013 like Israel \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83e\udeac\ud83d\udd4e\u270a\ud83c\udffc \u2013 would actually have to be listened to and HEARD by all nations around this planet Earth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine, if it were more than ONE Indigenous nation \ud83e\udeac\ud83c\udff9 worldwide taking her sovereign place upon this shared planet Earth \ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf0e ?!! \u2026 Such is fine, IF it is a Hollywood\/Pallywood movie like \u201cBlack Panther Wakanda Forever\u201d. Even though such pro-Indigenous movies make far less Bank around this world, than movies like James Cameron\u2019s COLONIST-apologetic series \u201cAvatar (dances with wolves in blue)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worldwide entertainment \u2013 aka, movies and shows \u2013 like the USA Superbowl and the mentioned Black Panther and Avatar, creates Bank for the Colonists! But, enough with Hollywood\/Pallywood distractions, and let\u2019s address the systemic deliberate suppressions of STILL surviving Indigenous peoples\u2019 EDUCATIONAL entertainment worldwide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A question: What do still surviving Indigenous peoples upon our shared planet Earth \ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf0e consider \u201centertainment\u201d?! Don\u2019t you even wonder and seek to explore?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all know \u2013 planet Earth wide \u2013 that MORE money is spent on watching backwards Indigenous peoples \u201cstick it to the white\u201d, brown, and black Colonizers, than are given to the living TEACHERS \ud83c\udff9 who WANT to freely teach REAL LIFE subjects to their students \ud83c\udff9 AND be paid enough to support their families while doing this! Yes, to even be able to support their communities (oh, what a novel concept!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is plenty entertainment to go around, for those willing to step out of the social media box, and explore! Why is indigenous Israel \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83e\udeac\ud83d\udd4e\u270a\ud83c\udffc still the subject of everyday news casts, in both the European and Arab colonized \u271d\ufe0f\u262a\ufe0f\u262d social world, especially in a world filled with\u2026. so much MORE social problems and concerns about planetary survival?!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know TLDR \ud83d\ude48\ud83d\ude49 \u2013 \u201ctoo long, didnt read\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s the 21st century CE, says the worldwide colonists. WHERE is the \ud83d\ude4a ?!!! This is not offensive, for human beings are nefesh, \u201cbreathing creatures\u201d, like all other planetary-wide nefesh. What defines us from all others is speech, based in imagination \u2753 !!! Hence, our Indigenous peoples\u2019 stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Native<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We appreciate Indigenous pages that are NOT shy about addressing the fringe Black American appropriation of Indigenous peoples\u2019 identities and cultures. It started with appropriating Jewish people\u2019s identity and culture, then progressed into appropriating AbyaYala and Michilimackinac indigenous peoples\u2019 identity and culture, and has over time evolved to appropriate (not just Jewish\/Israeli \u2013 but, as well) Egyptian and Amazigh peoples\u2019 identity and culture!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Indigenous Peoples worldwide should take OFFENSE to this behavior by \u201cculture vultures\u201d. We Indigenous peoples worldwide FULLY UNDERSTAND the forced suffering that Black Americans have gone through upon the United States of Colonial America! We really do!! To be kidnapped \u2013 stolen \u2013 from your lands, turned into domesticated chattel slave animals by the Colonizers, to the very extent that you were stripped of your very human being identity as Indigenous peoples\u2026!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Indigenous peoples worldwide fully EMPATHIZE with such anti-Indigenous racism for Colonial Allah and Christ ruling dominionism upon ALL Indigenous Peoples\u2019 lands worldwide. BUT, this never gives you the right to appropriate OUR struggle with the European and Arab colonists, nor the right to appropriate OUR Indigenous identities and cultures to replace what was stolen from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ACTUAL still surviving and still unassimilated Indigenous peoples do NOT appreciate it, when African Americans muddle our Indigenous peoples\u2019 struggles with YOUR formerly chattel enslaved struggles! Such appropriations of our lived reality defeats the very efforts of our still surviving \u2013 upon our sacred ancestral lands \u2013 Indigenous peoples\u2019 struggles to DECOLONIZE this planet Earth from European and Arab settler Colonialism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We surviving Indigenous Peoples of planet Earth HEAR you and understand you BUT, we beg you, DON\u2019T become the Colonizers that we are resisting assimilation against. And this applies to ALL formerly \u201cindigenous\u201d \u2013 from WABO Americans to WABO Palestinians! STOP making the entire world \u201cblack\u201d and \u201cwhite\u201d, as the European Conquistadors insisted for YOUR enslaved and your APPROPRIATED enslaved worldview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This established Colonial binary of white colonisers and black oppressed \u2013 the Christian invented racial categories of \u201cwhite\u201d versus \u201cblack\u201d peoples \u2013 socially labeled understanding of this shared human planet Earth is NOT REPRESENTATIVE of our still surviving Indigenous Peoples\u2019 lived and experienced worldview \u2013 WORLDWIDE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black American appropriation of Jewish people\u2019s identity is NO different than the white American appropriation of Jewish people\u2019s identity \u2013 the USA Evangelical Christian deliberate appropriation of Jewish identity and culture, in a new 20th century effort to proselytize us Jews into Christianity. Dressing up like us, translating their Greek language Bible into our Canaanite Hebrew language, calling themselves Jews \u201cfor Jesus\u201d, and wearing OUR sacred traditional\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigeneity is NOT for sale, NOR for appropriation, NOR is it determined by the color of one\u2019s skin! And Colonizers come in ALL human skin colors and looks!! Just ask ALL still unassimilated Indigenous peoples worldwide!!! The same goes for this modern \u2013 and very misused by anti-Indigenous racists \u2013 invention of genome science. We Indigenous peoples worldwide pre-date genetic ancestry analysis. So, we say: SHUT up and STOP trying to invalidate OUR connection to OUR sacred Indigenous peoples\u2019 lands through misused science!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you REALLY WANT a world of peace and security for ALL humankind? Then let us still surviving Indigenous Peoples speak \u2013 AND \u2013 also actually listen to us! We know how to be MODERN and save this world with land-based NATIVE values and way-of-life!!! Just look at the 1948 forcibly decolonized Indigenous nation of Jewish Israel. \u2026 Don\u2019t trust this post, then actually LEARN about we still surviving Indigenous peoples from YOUR specific region \u2013 and STOP Colonial explaining us to this world for us!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALL of us human beings have got \u201cskin in the game\u201d in this 21st century of colonial Gregorian years for our MUTUAL survival upon our SHARED planet Earth. We Indigenous peoples are ONLY asking for our land-based self-determination and self-sovereignty upon a portion of our sacred ancestral lands \u2013 AND \u2013 an equal seat of voice amongst the worldwide Colonial nations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Emojis offered tonight, to try to make the point with both left and right hemispheres of the brain AND with both social worlds of Colonial politics. Just straight to the point still surviving and unassimilated Indigenous Peoples\u2019 OUTREACH to this terribly endangered human world! This is all we have to say in this post. Outside of\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth2025 and for #indigenous resistance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to LEARN more about the Land Back struggle of Jewish and Kurdish Indigenous peoples, then visit JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to learn more about the Land Back struggle of AbyaYala and Michilimackinac Indigenous peoples, then visit Native Pride Movement , NDNCollective , The 7 Clans , Pass The Feather , Standing Rock Dakota Access Pipeline Opposition , O\u2019ahu Water Protectors , Office of Hawaiian Affairs , Mana Maoli , Indigenous Bridges , Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem , etc, etc!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, HELP us Indigenous nations WORLDWIDE to successfully and PEACEFULLY decolonise our Native peoples\u2019 sacred lands for the sake of planetary peace, security, and future sustainability for our childrens\u2019 childrens\u2019 children!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about the Jewish people of the Canaan land of Israel \u2013 http:\/\/www.takemeon.org\/dir\/the-history-of-canaanite-jews-from-beginning-to-present-day\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S. The world does NOT want this kind of Indigenous teaching shared, HENCE the multi-dozen interruptions to cause a LOSS of thought and failure to communicate!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Eitan Chitayat (@eitanchitayat_words)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>