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Za'atar
Za'atar ( ; ar, زَعْتَر, ) is a culinary herb or family of herbs. It is also the name of a spice mixture that includes the herb along with toasted sesame seeds, dried sumac, often salt, as well as other spices. As a family of related Middle Eastern herbs, it contains plants from the genera ''Origanum'' (oregano), ''Calamintha'' ( basil thyme), ''Thymus'' (typically ''Thymus vulgaris'', i.e., thyme), and '' Satureja'' (savory) plants.Allen, 2007p. 237. The name ''za'atar'' alone most properly applies to '' Origanum syriacum'', considered in biblical scholarship to be the ezov ( he, אזוב ) of the Hebrew Bible, often translated as ''hyssop'' but distinct from modern ''Hyssopus officinalis''. Used in Levantine cuisine, both the herb and spice mixture are popular throughout the Mediterranean region of the Middle East. Etymology According to Ignace J. Gelb, an Akkadian language word that can be read ''sarsar'' may refer to a spice plant. This word could be attest ...
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Origanum Syriacum
''Origanum syriacum''; syn. ''Majorana syriaca'' (also ''Origanum maru'', although this primarily refers to a hybrid of ''O. syriacum''), bible hyssop, Biblical-hyssop, Lebanese oregano or Syrian oregano, is an aromatic perennial herb in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Etymology The plant may be called za'atar by association with its use in an herb-spice mixture. In Modern Hebrew, it is called ''ezov'', and it may have been the אֵזוֹב ''ezov'' of Classical Hebrew. In many English translations of the Bible, ''ezov'' is rendered as hyssop, hence the common name for bible hyssop, believed to be a different plant generally identified with ''Hyssopus officinalis''. The problems with identification arise from Jewish oral tradition where it expressly prohibits Greek hyssop, and where the biblical plant is said to have been identical to the Arabic word, ''zaatar'' (''Origanum syriacum''), and which word is not to be associated with other types of ''ezov'' that often bear an additional ...
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Satureja Thymbra
''Satureja thymbra'', commonly known as savory of Crete, whorled savory, pink savory, and Roman hyssop ( Arabic: ''za'atar rumi''; ''za'atar franji''), is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family Lamiaceae, having strongly scented leaves, endemic to Libya, southeastern Europe from Sardinia to Turkey; Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel ( Palestine). The plant is noted for its dark-green leaves which grow on numerous, closely compacted branches, reaching a height of 20–50 cm. The plant bears pink to purple flowers that blossom between March and June. Habitat The semi-shrub grows mainly in Mediterranean woodlands and scrubland, adapting well to higher elevations, but also seen on rocky limestone gullies as an undergrowth, and alongside dirt roads. In Israel, the plant is commonly found in the Mount Carmel region, south of Haifa, as well as in the mountainous district of Upper Galilee, in Samaria and in the Judean mountains, thriving in areas where the soils are mainly terra rossa a ...
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Ezov
Ezov ( he, אֵזוֹב) is the Classical Hebrew name of a plant mentioned in the Bible in the context of religious rituals. In some English-language Bibles, the word is transliterated as ''ezob.'' The Septuagint translates the name as ὕσσωπος ''hyssop'', and English translations of the Bible often follow this rendering. The Hebrew word אזוב and the Greek word ὕσσωπος probably share a common (unknown) origin. In the Bible, ''ezov'' is described as a small plant found on or near walls, with an aromatic odour.''Jewish Encyclopedia'' Maimonides, Saadia Gaon and earlier Jewish commentators identified ''ezov'' with ''za'atar'', which may refer to various local herbs, including marjoram, oregano and thyme, which have aromatic and cleansing properties, grow wild in Israel, and can easily be bunched together to be used for sprinkling. The book of John in the New Testament (written in Koine Greek) mentions that ''hyssop'' was used, along with vinegar, to alleviat ...
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Thyme
Thyme () is the herb (dried aerial parts) of some members of the genus '' Thymus'' of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus ''Origanum'', with both plants being mostly indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Thymes have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses, and the species most commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes is ''Thymus vulgaris''. History Thyme is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Wild thyme grows in the Levant, where it might have been first cultivated. Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage. The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs". In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward of ...
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Satureja
''Satureja'' is a genus of aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to North Africa, southern and southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. A few New World species were formerly included in ''Satureja'', but they have all been moved to other genera. Several species are cultivated as culinary herbs called savory, and they have become established in the wild in a few places. Description ''Satureja'' species may be annual or perennial. They are low-growing herbs and subshrubs, reaching heights of . The leaves are long, with flowers forming in whorls on the stem, white to pale pink-violet. Ecology and cultivation ''Satureja'' species are food plants for the larva of some Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Caterpillars of the moth ''Coleophora bifrondella'' feed exclusively on winter savory (''S. montana''). Savory may be grown purely for ornamental purposes; members of the genus need sun and well-drained soil. Uses B ...
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Calamintha
''Calamintha'' is a genus of plants that belongs to the family Lamiaceae. Commonly called the calamints, there are about eight species in the genus (around 30 before revisions in taxonomy) which is native to the northern temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America. ''Calamintha'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some '' Lepidoptera'' species including '' Coleophora albitarsella''. Species *''Calamintha ashei'' *''Calamintha baumgarteni'' *'' Calamintha caerulescens'' *''Calamintha coccinea'' *''Calamintha dentata'' *''Calamintha grandiflora'' - large-flowered calamint, an ornamental plant. *''Calamintha incana'' *''Calamintha nepeta'' **'' Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta'' *''Calamintha sylvatica'' - common calamint, a low-growing plant with a minty smell and lavender flowers. It prefers alkaline soil. The leaves can be used to make tea. Moved to genus Acinos *'' Acinos alpinus'' (formerly ''Calamintha alpina'') - the alpine calamint *''Acinos arvensis'' (f ...
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Oregano
Oregano (, ; ''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Oregano is a woody perennial plant, growing tall, with opposite leaves long. The flowers are purple, long, produced in erect spikes in summer. It is sometimes called wild marjoram, and its close relative, '' O. majorana'', is known as sweet marjoram. Both are widely used as culinary herbs, especially in Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, and French cuisine. Oregano is also an ornamental plant, with numerous cultivars bred for varying leaf colour, flower colour and habit. Etymology Used since the middle 18th century, the Spanish word ''orégano'' is derived from the Latin ''orīganum'' and ultimately from the Classical Greek (''orī́ganon''). This is a compound Greek term that consists of (''óros'') meaning "mountain", and (''gános'') meaning "bright ...
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Savory (genus)
''Satureja'' is a genus of aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to North Africa, southern and southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. A few New World species were formerly included in ''Satureja'', but they have all been moved to other genera. Several species are cultivated as culinary herbs called savory, and they have become established in the wild in a few places. Description ''Satureja'' species may be annual or perennial. They are low-growing herbs and subshrubs, reaching heights of . The leaves are long, with flowers forming in whorls on the stem, white to pale pink-violet. Ecology and cultivation ''Satureja'' species are food plants for the larva of some Lepidoptera ( butterflies and moths). Caterpillars of the moth '' Coleophora bifrondella'' feed exclusively on winter savory (''S. montana''). Savory may be grown purely for ornamental purposes; members of the genus need sun and well-drained soil. Use ...
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Rhus Coriaria
''Rhus coriaria'', commonly called Sicilian sumac, tanner's sumach, or elm-leaved sumach, is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the cashew family Anacardiaceae. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The dried fruits are used as a spice, particularly in combination with other spices in the mixture called za'atar. Etymology The word originally comes from Aramaic ''summāqā'' 'red', via Arabic, Latin, and French.''Oxford English Dictionary'', 3rd edition, September 2019''s.v.''/ref> Distribution and habitat ''Rhus coriaria'' is native to the Eastern Mediterranean, Crimea, Caucasus and northern Iran, but is now naturalized in most of the Mediterranean Basin as well as Macaronesia. Cultivation The plant will grow in any type of soil that is deep and well-drained.Plants for a Future database
accessed Augus ...
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Sesame Seeds
Sesame ( or ; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a flowering plant in the genus '' Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods. World production in 2018 was , with Sudan, Myanmar, and India as the largest producers. Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3,000 years ago. ''Sesamum'' has many other species, most being wild and native to sub-Saharan Africa. ''S. indicum,'' the cultivated type, originated in India. It tolerates drought conditions well, growing where other crops fail. Sesame has one of the highest oil contents of any seed. With a rich, nutty flavor, it is a common ingredient in cuisines around the world. Like other foods, it can trigger allergic reactions in some people. Etymology The word "sesame" is from Latin ''sesamum'' and Greek σήσαμον : ''sēsamon ...
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Jonah Ibn Janah
Jonah ibn Janah or ibn Janach, born Abu al-Walīd Marwān ibn Janāḥ ( ar, أبو الوليد مروان بن جناح, or Marwan ibn Ganaḥ Hebrew: ), (), was a Jewish rabbi, physician and Hebrew grammarian active in Al-Andalus, or Islamic Spain. Born in Córdoba, ibn Janah was mentored there by Isaac ibn Gikatilla and Isaac ibn Mar Saul, before he moved around 1012, due to the sacking of the city. He then settled in Zaragoza, where he wrote ''Kitab al-Mustalhaq'', which expanded on the research of Judah ben David Hayyuj and led to a series of controversial exchanges with Samuel ibn Naghrillah that remained unresolved during their lifetimes. His magnum opus, ''Kitab al-Anqih'', contained both the first complete grammar for Hebrew and a dictionary of Classical Hebrew, and is considered "the most influential Hebrew grammar for centuries" and a foundational text in Hebrew scholarship. Ibn Janah is considered a very influential scholar in the field of Hebrew grammar; his work ...
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Maimonides
Musa ibn Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (); la, Moses Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam ( he, רמב״ם), was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. In his time, he was also a preeminent astronomer and physician, serving as the personal physician of Saladin. Born in Córdoba, Almoravid Empire (present-day Spain), on Passover eve, 1138 (or 1135), he worked as a rabbi, physician and philosopher in Morocco and Egypt. He died in Egypt on 12 December 1204, when his body was taken to the lower Galilee and buried in Tiberias. During his lifetime, most Jews greeted Maimonides' writings on Jewish law and ethics with acclaim and gratitude, even as far away as Iraq and Yemen. Yet, while Maimonides rose to become the revered head of the Jewish community in Egypt, his writings also had vociferous critics, particularly in Spain. Nonetheless, he was posthumous ...
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