best known as the perfect drink (in
tea) when you've got an upset stom-
ach. But it's also said to be good for
headaches, toothaches, coughs, colds
and general mental fatigue.
Nursing mothers take note: mint is
said to be helpful for a clogged breast
infection when applied as a compress;
however, some believe it may slow the
flow of breast milk to baby.
Israeli fruit.
Along with the United States, Israel
is one of the main exporters of
oranges today.
When To Use Orange is believed to
be the favorite scent of babies, who
find it calming and uplifting. Orange
also may help with constipation or
other stomach ailments.
LEMON
PINE
The Jewish Angle. You can read about
the pine tree in the Torah, in Isaiah
41:19 and 60:13. Read about edible
pine nuts (a popular ingredient in
pesto) in Isaiah 44:14.
When To Use (NOTE — pine
essential oil should never be used
directly on the skin, either with chil-
dren or adults). Pine's fresh scent can
help with colds or sinus problems and
serve as a deodorant.
Additionally, pine is said to be a
warming and comforting scent to
help with stress.
ORANGE
The Jewish Angle: The orange made its
first known appearance in Israel in -
the 18th century, likely being brought
there by merchants from Portugal.
Some 100 years later, the mandarin
came to Israel from Egypt. And after
World War I, the clementine (a vari-
ety of the mandarin orange) made
aliyah.
At the beginning of the 20th
century, residents of pre-state Israel
learned about American methods
for cultivating and distributing
produce, serving as a model for the
country's future orange trade.
By the early 1900s, workers_ in
Palestine had created more than
200 varieties of citrus fruit. By
1914, Jewish workers were export-
ing more than 1 million cases of
citrus a year, mostly to the United
Kingdom, which to this day con-
tinues to be a leading importer of
The Jewish Angle. Despite Israel's fame
today for its citrus fruits, the Torah
never discusses either the orange or
the lemon.
However, you will find mention of
a lemon-like fruit in Leviticus 23:40,
the only place the Torah does note a
citrus fruit. In Leviticus, you can read
of "the fruit of the goodly tree," also
known as the etrog.
The lemon has a much longer his-
tory in the Land of Israel than its
orange counterpart, having been
brought there by Arab merchants in
the Middle Ages.
When To Use. Lemon is believed to
be a stimulant to help those feeling
sluggish. It's thought to be a happy
scent, which can promote optimism
and fearlessness. Because of its astrin-
gent properties, lemon is a popular
ingredient in many cosmetics, where
it can be found in oil-controlling
lotions.
Lemon also is used for fighting
wrinkles and as an insect repellent.
(Note: Citrus oils can cause skin
irritation. Use orange and lemon oils
sparingly.)
FRAGRANCE AND JUDAISM
• Four separate blessings are used
for different kinds of fragrances: per-
fume, or a blend of spices (boreh
minay b'samim); shrubs, trees or their
blossoms (boreh atzay b'samim);
herbs, grasses or flowers (boreh isvay
b'samim); edible fruits or nuts (ha-
noten reach tov baperot).
• Every week, we close Shabbat
with Havdalah, part of which
includes smelling spices. David ben
Yosef Abudarham (also known as
Abudraham) of Spain, a 14th-century
commentator on Jewish liturgy, said
the spices are intended to instill a
sense of comfort and consolation for
the departing extra soul that every
Jew has on Shabbat.
• That a fragrance can influence
mood is well established in the
Tanach. Even the offerings to God are
characterized as reach nichoach, a "sat-
isfying aroma," in Leviticus 1:9 and
thereafter in many places in the
Torah.
• The Torah confirms what is well
known, that people can be identified
by aroma. When Jacob deceived his
father, Isaac, into believing that Jacob
was Esau, Jacob put on Esau's cloth-
ing.
When Jacob came near his blind
father, Isaac smelled Esau's coat and
exclaimed, "See, the fragrance of my
son is like the fragrance of a field
blessed by God" (Genesis 27:27).
• In the ancient Temple in
Jerusalem, incense was offered daily
on its own altar. The ingredients, first
listed in Exodus 30:34-36, are
described in detail in the Talmud.
• Perfume and fragrances are men-
tioned in each of the eight chapters of
the Song of Songs, that most sensuous
of ancient Hebrew liturgical poetry..
Fragrance also appears in other books
of the Tanach: Proverbs, Psalms,
Esther.
• The kings of Israel were annoint-
ed with perfumed oil.
• Among the gifts that the Queen
of Sheba brought to King Solomon
was perfume (I Kings 10:2).
• The Talmud, in Kiddushin 82b,
states, "Happy is he who craft is that
of perfumer."
• If you haven't had any children
yet but would like to, or if you've
already got plenty but want more,
consider a little lavender.
First, the rabbis made mention of
the use of lavender as a fragrance;
now the Chicago-based Smell & Taste
Research Foundation reports that
lavender (along with pumpkin pie) is
most likely to make men (and, to a
degree, women) ready for romance.
SWEET SMELLS on page 42
V
PEPriv
13 13 CI 13 C1 CI CI CI CI CI 13 CI
11/7
2003
41