Israeli Culture

ISRAELI CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

Presented by Beth El’s Israel Affairs Committee

Beth El’s Israel Affairs Committee (IAC) is pleased to share cultural items of interest concerning Israel each month. IAC always welcomes new members. For more information about meetings and events, please contact either Tamar Tait atTamarTait@optonline.net, or Bruce Gold at Bruces.gold@gmail.com. This month’s Israeli Cultural Connections column is presented by Tamar Tait.

Israel's Wine Industry Gets Better with Age

One of the many events Beth El’s Israel Affairs Committee usually looks forward to organizing each year is an evening of wine tasting, not just because it’s a nice opportunity to schmooze with friends over wine and a nosh, but because it’s also a great way to learn about the latest developments in Israel’s dynamic wine industry.

Viticulture, the cultivation of grapevines, has ancient roots in the land of Israel. Grapes are one of the seven blessed foods in the book of Deuteronomy (together with wheat, barley, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey) and archaeologists have discovered evidence of locally produced wines dating back thousands of years.

Although grapes were not cultivated after the Muslim conquest and the Ottoman Empire began ruling the territory in the early 16th century, wine-making returned in the 19th century when Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner of the Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, in Bordeaux, brought over French wine makers and agronomists to guide a new wave of wine makers. By the time the modern state of Israel was created in 1948, Israel had 14 wineries; more recently, the industry has surged to include approximately 300 wineries producing 40 to 50 million bottles of wine per year.

Israel today is widely recognized as capable of producing world-class wines and is winning much critical acclaim. In 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards, the so-called “Oscars of the wine world,” named a Carmel Syrah as the best in the world, significantly raising Israel’s profile in the industry. Since then Israeli wines have dramatically increased their stature. From just 2016 to 2018 Israeli wine awards increased from 40 to 57 (+43%). Silver awards rose from 1 to 14 and Bronze from 9 to 40. This past year, Israeli red wines earned an impressive six gold, 31 silver and 28 bronze awards at the Decanter Awards—an amazing feat for such a small nation. As Sotheby’s Wine Guide has noted, “The country’s entire wine industry has gained global recognition.” Food & Wine called Israel “One of the Most Exciting Wine-Producing Countries in the World“.

Israeli wine industry analysts expect that Israeli wines are on a continuing upward trajectory and will soon break into an even wider audience and level of appreciation with a new generation of wine makers who are graduating from Israel’s first wine-making program at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Already a leader in innovative agricultural practices—like drip irrigation and in-vineyard meteorological stations—which have helped make wine-making viable in otherwise inhospitable locales, Israel’s next generation of wine makers is planning to make Israel a paradise for the production of world-renowned wines.

Although most of us are unable to travel to Israel as of the time of this writing, many wineries in Israel offer tours and it’s a highly recommended experience to keep in mind for the future. Carmel Winery in Zichron Ya’acov, the largest winery in Israel, offers an especially diverse menu of wine tasting tours and workshops. Smaller vineyards around the country also offer unique tasting opportunities and custom tour guide companies offer private wine lovers’ tours led by their own sommeliers. For more information go to www.winesofIsrael.com, a promotional campaign organized by the Israel Export Institute.

For those of you who can’t wait for your next trip to Israel for a wine tasting expedition and are curious about the six Israeli gold medalists at the 2020 Decanter Awards, they were all reds: Gofna Cabernet Franc Réserve from Gva’ot Winery (vintage 2017), Peak from Psagot Winery (2016), Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Mosaic Exclusive Edition from Shiloh Winery (2017), Black Tulip from Tulip Winery (2017), and Cabernet Sauvignon from Yarden Winery (2016). The Israeli winery that received the most Decanter Awards this year was Shiloh, with two golds, seven silvers and four bronzes.

We hope we’ll be able to meet again soon for an Israel Affairs Committee wine tasting at Beth El. Until then, L’Chayim!

REFLECTIONS, continued from page 3

other activities and programs that Beth El and the larger Jewish community somehow managed to organize in a relatively short time. I am in awe of what has been accomplished in these trying times, and I am very grateful. It might seem odd to say this during a pandemic, but what a blessing this has been for me and for our Jewish community!

In Shekalim, we read about Temple sacrifices and offerings and it is there that we find many “yucky” details. For example, there’s a mishnah dealing with the question of spit found on the road in Jerusalem and whether it’s clean or unclean! (I’m going with unclean!) Here again, it was hard for me to connect. My husband shared with me one of the binders he has kept that are filled with printouts of Joshua Kulp’s comments. Regarding Shekalim, Professor Kulp tells us that basically, this tractate is about the financial operation of the Temple in Jerusalem, which is “a commandment, one to be fulfilled properly and with a sense of its great import.” Of course, we no longer have the Temple in Jerusalem, nor did the rabbis in the time of the Mishnah, yet we can understand the necessity of giving generous support to our synagogues and other worthy Jewish institutions in order to ensure the continuity of our people.

In learning mishnah this year, I came away with a new respect and admiration for our ancestral rabbis and leaders. They showed great wisdom in trying to create order in a chaotic world, noting the importance of every word in the Torah and interpreting the ways that God intends for us to achieve lives filled with holiness and meaning. During this time when our lives have been turned upside down, may our seders bring us order, and may our Passover traditions provide meaning and connection. Chag Kasher v’sameach. May we go from strength to strength. (written in March)