Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel ( he, נאות קדומים) is a

Biblical garden Biblical gardens are Horticulture, cultivated collections of plants that are named in the Bible. They are a type of theme garden that botanical gardens, public parks, and private gardeners maintain. They are grown in many parts of the world, with ma ...

and nature preserve located near Modi'in, midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Etymology

Neot Kedumim means "pleasant pastures ''(or habitations)'' of old."

Overview

Neot Kedumim is an attempt to re-create the physical setting of the Hebrew Bible. The park covers an area of about . The idea of planting such a garden dates back to 1925. In 1964, land was allocated for the project with the help of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Neot Kedumim comprises a series of natural and agricultural landscapes, among them the Forest of Milk and Honey, the Dale of the Song of Songs, Isaiah's Vineyard and the Fields of the

Seven Species The Seven Species ( he, שִׁבְעַת הַמִינִים, ''Shiv'at HaMinim'') are seven agricultural products - two grains and five fruits - which are listed in the Hebrew Bible as being special products of the Land of Israel. The seven specie ...

. Signs are posted throughout the garden quoting relevant Jewish texts in Hebrew and English. Neot Kedumim palm trees

Neot Kedumim offers pre-booked organized tours but is also accessible to individuals who can roam the site on their own with maps provided by the park. Neot Kedumim view

History

When Ephraim and Hannah Hareuveni immigrated from Russia to Ottoman Palestine in 1912, they dreamed of developing a biblical landscape reserve that "embodied the panorama and power of the landscapes that both shaped the values of the Bible and provided a rich vocabulary for expressing them". Their son, Noga, a physicist, dedicated his life to implementing his parents' dream. To build the park, thousands of tons of soil were trucked in, reservoirs were built to catch runoff rain water, ancient terraces, wine presses and ritual baths were restored, and hundreds of varieties of plants were cultivated. In 1994 Neot Kedumim and Noga Hareuveni, the driving spirit behind the garden, were awarded the

Israel Prize The Israel Prize ( he, פרס ישראל; ''pras israél'') is an award bestowed by the State of Israel, and regarded as the state's highest cultural honor. History The Israel Prize is awarded annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state cer ...

for their special contribution to society and the State of Israel.

Salvia and menorah

Plants in several species of the genus '' Salvia'' resemble the menorah.Menorahs growing wild, Irene Virag
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References

External links

* * Note: see ''

Aaronsohnia ''Aaronsohnia'' is a genus in the family Asteraceae, native to mainly non-salty steppes and deserts in North Africa and Middle East. It was named in 1927 after the agronomist Aaron Aaronsohn by the botanists Otto Warburg (1859–1938) and Alexand ...

'' for a picture of ''Aaronsohnia factorovskyi'', a species in the daisy family. {{coord, 31, 57, 0.84, N, 34, 58, 33.47, E, display=title Israel Prize recipients that are organizations Israel Prize for special contribution to society and the State recipients Parks in Israel Protected areas of Central District (Israel) Nature reserves in Israel Bible-themed museums, zoos, and botanical gardens Hebrew Bible in popular culture