On 9/29/2015 *, I was deeply moved by having been able to fit another piece in the enigmatic, rare and laconic puzzle the secret Jews of my Portuguese family have very subtly transmitted to me. That was the Sukkot week, on which jews celebrate the feast of harvest, and I happened to read something about it, learning something on its symbology according to which four crop plants are bound to "four types of Jews."
Here the enigmatic remembrance dating back to my teen years: on a spring afternoon, in 1968-69, with a solemn and mysterious air, apparently out of context for me, my grandmother Natividade (whose name at birth maybe was not this one) took me to her garden.
All of her hints were laconic, thought provoking, leaving no more than a small, vague question as perhaps a seed to germinate some day. I used to wonder: "why is she telling me this, and why now?" It was as if those enigmatic talks were not to leave room for immediate questioning, rather just for much later thinking.
Here the enigmatic remembrance dating back to my teen years: on a spring afternoon, in 1968-69, with a solemn and mysterious air, apparently out of context for me, my grandmother Natividade (whose name at birth maybe was not this one) took me to her garden.
Pointing out a certain shrub, she said, "You must know this good plant, for it is very important to our family, ands thus you too must cultivate it." Then pucking out a small leaf for me to smell, grandma suggested me then to sniff its good aroma, adding it was even a tasteful seasoning: "being enough you put only a single leaf on a steak which, for instance, is being prepared to have a so delicious meat."
That was all she told me on that occasion!All of her hints were laconic, thought provoking, leaving no more than a small, vague question as perhaps a seed to germinate some day. I used to wonder: "why is she telling me this, and why now?" It was as if those enigmatic talks were not to leave room for immediate questioning, rather just for much later thinking.
When, after the death of my crypto-Jews: father, grandparents, aunts and a cousin it was possible for me to rebuild that puzzle of mysterious and instigating lines, it soon came to my mind her mention to that bush and its scented leaf.
As much as I looked at botanics books, I couldn't find what was that plant species. Whether it was indeed used as seasoning, maybe it was basil, marjoram, oregano, bay leaf, rosemary? By no means, for a long time my research was in vain!
Sukkot, the millennial festival of harvest contains a symbology, in which each one of four plants of cultivation correspond to one single among "four types of Jews". As one of these four crops I have found the same bush my Jewish grandmother had so long ago shown to me in her garden. MYRTLE is its name!
Here follows a brief description of the symbolic allusions to a Jew's service of God for each of these plants:
1) CIDER, a fragrant fruit having a thick white shell. Often harvested still green from the tree, maturing thereafter when it gets bright yellow. Having fragrance and flavor, it represents those Jews who actually read the Torah and do the good deeds it teaches.
Here follows a brief description of the symbolic allusions to a Jew's service of God for each of these plants:
1) CIDER, a fragrant fruit having a thick white shell. Often harvested still green from the tree, maturing thereafter when it gets bright yellow. Having fragrance and flavor, it represents those Jews who actually read the Torah and do the good deeds it teaches.
2) THE DATE PALM's leaves in bouquet are beautiful, straight and firmly attached, have taste but no smell, so they represent Jews who study the Torah, but do not do the good deeds taught there.
3) THE BRANCH OF MYRTLE is another of such symbols, possessing a pretty pattern forming a trio of small leaves emerging from one same point. It repeats such a pattern throughout the whole plant. Called Hadass, the branch of Myrtle has a distinct fagrance, but has no flavor, symbolizing those who DO GOOD ACTIONS BUT DO NOT STUDY THE TORAH.
4) THE BRANCH OF WILLOW (Arava), with its elongated leaves ending in a thin point. These have no taste or smell, representing Jews who do not study Torah and do not good deeds.
3) THE BRANCH OF MYRTLE is another of such symbols, possessing a pretty pattern forming a trio of small leaves emerging from one same point. It repeats such a pattern throughout the whole plant. Called Hadass, the branch of Myrtle has a distinct fagrance, but has no flavor, symbolizing those who DO GOOD ACTIONS BUT DO NOT STUDY THE TORAH.
4) THE BRANCH OF WILLOW (Arava), with its elongated leaves ending in a thin point. These have no taste or smell, representing Jews who do not study Torah and do not good deeds.
During Sukkot all branches are daily stirred together in the synagogue (except on Shabbath), as a symbol of God's might over all creation.
The secret Jews of Portugal, who survived 500 years with their true religion only within their homes, were not allowed to have synagogues, or rabbis, nor their Torah (the jewish Bible).
This explains my grandmother's message with this reference to the myrtle: "We are Jews, but we cannot study the Torah, not even have it at our home. However, what really matters is our ability to follow Moses's laws"!
(Whenever a Torah was discovered hidden in a "New Christian" home, there was a concrete chance for those people to be condemned to the stake of the inquisition.)
How great have been my ancestral Portuguese Jews, what divine strength emanates from their faith!
* 16 Tishrei, 5776 *
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