From AP via Ha’aretz:Israeli researchers have germinated a sapling date palm from 2,000-year-old seeds, saying their research could lead to the discovery of new medicines that will benefit future generations.
Nicknamed “Methuseleh” after the Biblical character who lived to be 969, the sapling grew from a seed excavated at Masada, where Jewish rebels chose suicide over dominion by the Romans about…2000 years ago. In the final hours of Masada’s residents, Elazar ben Yair ordered that all the Jews’ possessions except food be destroyed to show that the Jews did not die “for want of necessities; but that, according to our original resolution, we have preferred death before slavery.”
We may be leaping to conclusions here, this seed left behind by those who would not succumb and has been reborn (with the help of science) as a valuable tool for future generations proves quite literally that the Jews will not only survive, but thrive.
(More photos at sfgate.com.)
Yo, Yenta!
From the edge of the Diaspora rises a new generation of Jewish mother
This blog almost brought tears to my eyes… we are a resilient bunch, aren’t we? That little tree should inspire us all.
32. You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.