The Jewish New Year approaches, and Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem displays the pomegranate in its deep red shades and crowned majesty. The fruit, originating near the Caspian Sea in Iran, is one of the seven species mentioned in Jewish tradition, symbolizing abundance and renewal
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, families bless the fruit: “May our merits be as numerous as the pomegranate’s seeds.” In the bustling alleys of Mahane Yehuda, between figs, avocados, and melons, pomegranates appear whole or cracked open, their shining seeds sparkling like gems. Visitors stream from Jaffa Road, picking two or three fruits, curious about sweetness levels, ready for the “Shehecheyanu” blessing, before returning to refill their baskets
Pomegranates in Mahane Yehuda
“Whoever buys a pomegranate buys a blessing,” chants Amos, one of the vendors overlooking Jerusalem’s light rail. He quickly explains that the pomegranate symbolizes not only merits but also strong health
Rabbinic tradition linked the pomegranate with 613 commandments. Poets praised its shape and fragrance, while in the Torah it adorned the robe of the High Priest, alongside golden bells. Over the centuries, artisans created silver and gold pomegranate ornaments for Torah scrolls, making the fruit a central inspiration in Jerusalem’s cultural and spiritual life
Cultivating Pomegranates in Israel
Debate still surrounds the fruit. Yossi, a young vendor near Agripas Street, claims unmatched sweetness, while a passerby complains that the seeds stick between teeth. Another shopper notes with humor that opening a pomegranate stains her kitchen, though her husband insists on adding the seeds to salads
The broader truth emerges: abundance requires effort. To harvest a pomegranate means thorns, peeling, and patience. Across Israel, farmers cultivate orchards in the valleys, the Sharon, the Negev, and the Galilee. Irrigation, fertilization, and careful soil work produce a royal fruit rich in antioxidants and celebrated as a “drink of life.” Juice factories export it worldwide, but in Jerusalem, it remains a centerpiece of the holiday basket
(Rachel’s Tomb near Jerusalem becomes center of prayers)
The Pomegranate as a Symbol of Jerusalem
Like the life of Jerusalem itself, the pomegranate requires breaking through tough layers to reach sweetness inside. Each peel removed reveals a deeper truth, reflecting a society both complex and resilient
In days of division and crises, the pomegranate reminds us that true abundance comes from unity. Thousands of seeds together form a single whole, just as Jerusalem and Israel seek renewal. This is the hope carried into the new year: to overcome hardships, to embrace community, and to discover inner sweetness that sustains life
