Abstract
The book Shaarei Yerushalayim , written by R. Moshe Reicher, contains contemporary information on 19th-century Eretz Israel. Reicher perceived his compilation as a religious cultural moderator between the Holy Land and the Jews in the Diaspora, in which he reported to the Jews of Galicia on various aspects related to the land. This article discusses his descriptions of local food crops and the messages he attempted to convey to his readers through botanical means. Reicher describes some 70 species of fruits and vegetables that were available in Jerusalem’s markets. The occupation with local fruits is part of a ‘covert campaign’ for Eretz Israel and Jerusalem. Reicher tells his listeners about the good cheap local fruits; he stresses their uniqueness and describes their qualities and the dishes prepared from them, and also compares them with the crops in Galicia.
Highlights
IntroductionEuropean readers were unfamiliar with Arabic, Reicher made a point of mentioning the names of the crops in this language, apparently as part of his attempt to present the information authentically and tangibly, taking into account the dominant Muslim-Ottoman atmosphere in the country, and he may have seen this as a bridge to a more diverse audience, to be comprised in the future of others aside from Galicians
When Reicher speaks about local agriculture, he does not state outright that the condition of the fruits attests to redemption or to a new spiritual era in the history of the land, but as a promoter of Eretz Israel, he emphasises the good taste of the fruit, attesting to the special nature of the land
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated agency of the authors
Summary
European readers were unfamiliar with Arabic, Reicher made a point of mentioning the names of the crops in this language, apparently as part of his attempt to present the information authentically and tangibly, taking into account the dominant Muslim-Ottoman atmosphere in the country, and he may have seen this as a bridge to a more diverse audience, to be comprised in the future of others aside from Galicians Another possibility is that his book was designed as a type of guide for potential immigrants to Eretz Israel, providing information that would help them find their way around the markets. The crops mentioned above, which require cold weather in order to produce good fruit, occupied a prominent place in Eastern European cuisine and diets and were used to prepare a variety of dishes and jams (Harrison et al 1969:80–82; Shemesh 2014:387), and their absence from Eretz Israel agriculture was prominent and significant.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
