מזון

The opening chapter of the Torah recounts how humanity, from the outset of its creation, is charged with mastering the natural world. When Adam and Eve sin in the Garden of Eden, God tells Adam that he will now have toil by the sweat of his brow to cultivate the land and produce bread. Later in biblical literature, agriculture becomes the basis of national and religious life as the Israelites settle in the land of Israel. Many commandments and rituals are centered upon agriculture and the agricultural calendar.

The seven species are seven special products of the land of Israel, listed in Deuteronomy 8:8. They are: wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranates, olive (oil), and date (date honey). The fruits have significance in different areas of Jewish law; for example, a unique blessing is recited after eating them.