Tishrei Torah Tease

Tishrei features a concentration of major Jewish holidays, all of which together fruitfully yield for us a deepened relationship with Judaism. Speaking of fruitful yields, a variety of fruits are present in significant ways across the spectrum of Jewish life, from Tanach to chagim (holidays), ritual to custom, peoplehood to nationalism.

Here is a multi-part Torah Tease about fruits in Jewish life, presented to you now as we near Rosh Hashanah, and to hopefully carry you through to Simchat Torah when the answers will be shared! Enjoy!

1. The answer may seem obvious, but think and explore again! -- What is the fruit that Adam and Eve ate in the Garden of Eden? (Hint:  How does the Torah actually refer to that fruit?)

2. Identify some Biblical characters whose names are fruits (include citations).

3. Identify some cities mentioned in Tanach whose names are fruits (include citations).

4. Name the Jewish holiday that has as entrenched custom (not law) to eat a specific fruit (dipped in something) – and name the fruit. Also, name the other fruit most associated with this holiday.

5. What Jewish holiday has as one of its official/alternate names a reference to fruits?

6. What fruit did the spies bring back from Israel to Moshe and the people of Israel?

7. Name 3 distinct Torah laws that have to do with fruits.

8. What fruit drinks are specifically mentioned in Tanach?

9. a. What is the first piece of fruit mentioned in Tanach?

b. What is the second general fruit-type mentioned in Tanach?

c. What is the first named fruit mentioned in Tanach?

10. Isn’t it interesting that the Israeli sabra fruit is not mentioned in Tanach, but the watermelon is! Where is it mentioned, and in what context?

11. Thinking in terms of homophones, what fruit is explosive?

12. In another play-on-words, the Torah describes Moshe’s character by what word that with a different spelling is a fruit?

13. What Jewish holiday has a specific fruit as one of its primary symbols? How is that fruit referred to in Tanach? How is it referred to in common Jewish parlance?

14. Identify some passages in Tanach that use particular fruits in metaphors or similes.

15. Identify particular Tanach proverbs that use fruits as vehicles for lessons taught.

16. Which 3 Jewish holidays are commonly associated with shiv’at haminim (the seven species)? How many and which of the shivat haminim are fruits?

17. Name some specific b’rachot (blessings) associated with fruits and fruit trees.

18. What fruit-name is also the name of an object that adorns the top of many Torah scrolls?

19. What binds the English word ‘fruits’ with its Hebrew counterpart?