Balebuste Botanicals

Toni Morrison’s profound wisdom is focused on the issue of the Other in this book.  Othering is a concept relevant to us as Jews and also as we contemplate how we can best interact with other cultures.

 

The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley is a treasure trove of research, thought and writing on this important topic. They host marvelous free events and hold a weekly learning session.

 

The most recent census data on Jews in the US from the Pew Research Center

 

Data on the diversity of the Jewish community in the Bay Area of California, the 4th largest hub of Jewish life in the U.S.  California often leads in national trends, so I think this data is predictive.

 

Recipe for Ethiopian chicken stew. Note the profound emphasis on healing herbs in the recipe. 

 

Article featuring modern Beta Israeli Women from the Times of Israel

 

Beejhy Barhany an American Beta Israel woman who runs the Tsion Cafe in NYC which serves Ethiopian Jewish food.  She founded BINA (Understanding) which is linked in the article, to educate people in the US about the Beta Israel community.

 

Watch a video of Ms. Barhany teaching us how to make a vegetarian Ethiopian dish.

 

The promised recipe for Dabo bread.  This is the bread used at the end of the Sigd ceremony, which symbolically replicates the shew bread offered in the ancient Temple

 

Article about the Tradescantia, “Wandering Jew” 

 

Photojournalist coverage of the Sigd festival from the Jerusalem Post. Lots of pictures, and at the very bottom is the video where you can hear Geez

 

Fleabane monograph anyone?  And note that this is a good resource in general, the USDA plant guide for each state, as they are tasked with recording ethnobotanical uses as well as cultivation information. (*note this link is no longer live because Trump dismantled the USDA plant guides. Sigh.)

 

Here is an article with the history and lore of the Four Thieves vinegar, along with instructions to make it.  While this formulation is not from the Jewish community, every single one of these plants is used in Jewish ethnobotany (mentioned in our sacred texts or documented in Jewish books of remedies).

 

Speaking of making things, I want to give a shout out to a couple of very skilled Jewish makers we have in our class.  

 

Kaibrina Sky Buck of Golden Goddess Botanicals, is a talented Jewish herbalist who features today’s plant product, Frankincense, in her luscious roll-on perfume and fragrantly transporting bath salts, among many other tempting treats.

 

Miriam of Big Bubbe Energy (gotta love the name!) makes and sells teas, candles for Shabbat and Havdalah, fantastic besamim and more. She also operates on a sliding scale. I got Shabbat and Havdalah candles as well as the besamim to use. The candles smell like the inside of the hive, the besamim is beautiful in scent and meaning - her included drash is wonderful!

 

For all of you who garden with kids this is a wonderful series about culturally inclusive gardening practices with kids.  I’ll be speaking from the Jewish perspective on a panel along with garden educators working in Arab American school gardens.

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Thank you to Naomi Spector for mentioning another book about ‘mouth cooking’ Honey Cakes & Latkes: Recipes from the Old World by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Survivors

 

Thank you to Rivka Schwartz for telling us about a book all about Frankincense.  (I think this is the one you suggested, if I’m wrong, please send us the correct info.)

Both of the women mentioned in the previous two entries are members of the Jewish Herbalist Network (as am I).  We hold monthly meetings and have a democratic structure, rotating teaching (many folks are just learning, feel free to come as a fly on the wall).  Contributions are voluntary and sliding scale. Contact liel@jewishfarmernetwork.org and they will set you up with information about the next gathering.