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	<title>Torah Flora</title>
	<link>http://www.torahflora.org</link>
	<description>Plants and nature in Bible and Jewish tradition</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:06:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Achashverosh&#8211;Bumbling KIng or Agricultural Pest Insect?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(The king of Persia in the book of Esther, the legend of The Wandering Jew, and entomology; February 2010)

Readers who are familiar with the book of Esther and the holiday of Purim are also acquainted with the figure of Achashverosh (or Ahasverus), the king of Persia who is manipulated by his ambitious courtier Haman into [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2010/02/achashverosh-bumbling-king-or-agricultural-pest-insect/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Botany, Prophecy, and Theology</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Botany determines Jeremiah&#8217;s theology; August 2009)

The prophetic books of the Bible contain many metaphors based on natural and agricultural life. The contrast of the pious and the arrogant in Jeremiah 17:5-8 employs a comparison of “a tree planted by water” and something called arar in Hebrew. Following Harold Fisch&#8217;s translation in the Jerusalem Bible, we [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2009/08/botany-prophecy-and-theology/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Drug-free sabbath candles</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Hemp and the laws of Shabbat candles; July 2008, revised August 2008)

Many readers may have a cursory familiarity with the second chapter of Mishna Shabbat, the tractate of mishna dealing with the laws of the Sabbath. In many synagogues, this chapter is customarily read by worshippers on the eve of the Sabbath to allow latecomers [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/drug-free-sabbath-candles/</link>
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		<title>Pomegranate physics for Passover</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Wood anatomy, heat transfer, and the Paschal lamb; July 2008, revised Aug. 2008 and Aug. 2009)

One of the highlights of the Exodus from Egypt and its commemoration in ancient times was the sacrifice and consumption of the Paschal lamb, described in Exodus 12:3-11. A lamb was to be roasted whole and consumed in its entirety [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/pomegranate-physics-for-passover/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Environmentally sound Bible publishing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Environmental certification of wood and paper; July 2008)

In recent years, a number of religious organizations have taken an interest in environmental matters. This trend has been strongest among liberal Protestant churches. Several Jewish organizations that promote environmental education and activism have appeared, as well, among them The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (www.coejl.org), [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/environmentally-sound-bible-publishing/</link>
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		<title>Saying no to bread worship</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Significance of yeast fermentation in pharaonic Egypt and Passover; July 2008)

The seder, or ritual Passover meal, is very rich in symbolism. The two most central symbols are probably the matzah and the sacrificial meal of lamb, which is most conspicuous today by its absence. An additional piece of matzah, the afikoman, has been eaten in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/saying-no-to-bread-worship/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Sabbatical potatoes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Contemporary shmitah observance; March 2008)

Readers of Torah Flora may be aware that the current Hebrew year is a “shmitah,” or sabbatical year. The significance of the shmitah year is described in Leviticus 25:1-7. Briefly, shmitah is the last year of a seven-year cycle. During this year, agricultural operations such as planting and systematic harvesting on [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/sabbatical-potatoes/</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Bananas—For blessing, not for slapstick, even on Purim</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Botanical basis of the blessing said before eating a banana; March 2008)

Mushrooms are not the only foods whose blessing is a surprise. (See Mushrooms&#8211;Selfish, Helpful, and Rocket Fuel.) Most people who live outside the tropics have not seen how bananas grow, and assume that they are tree fruits. The blessing to be said before eating [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/bananas-purim/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Mushrooms—Selfish, helpful, and rocket fuel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Mushrooms in halacha, kabbalah, social criticism, and biology; March 2008)

As Purim and spring approach, shady, wooded areas become wet and warm. This is an ideal time of year to search for mushrooms. Eating wild mushrooms can be extremely dangerous, and is STRONGLY discouraged for anyone but experts in mushroom identification. However, some important lessons can [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/mushrooms-fuel/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>A tree that helps animals prepare for Purim?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(Elephants and the marula fruit; March 2008)

The festival of Purim, celebrating the averted near-massacre described in the Book of Esther, begins this year on the night of Thursday, March 20 and continues through the following day. The holiday continues for a second day in cities that were sufficiently developed to have a protective city wall [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.torahflora.org/2008/08/a-tree-that-helps-animals-prepare-for-purim/</link>
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