Introduction to Jewish Herbalism

Description

Join ethnoherbalist, plant historian, and educator Naomi Spector for a three-part introduction to Jewish Herbalism. Students will have the chance to learn about and get practical experience with amulets, honey elixirs, and infused oils. Sunday June 8th: Jewish Amulet Workshop In our Jewish Amulet workshop, we will explore the history of several herbs that are considered protective across Jewish traditions, such as garlic, rosemary and cloves. We will ask questions including: Why do Jews make amulets and how do we use them? How have Jews protected themselves from the “evil eye”? Why are the colors red and blue considered protective in Jewish tradition?; and finally each participant will personalize and decorate a baytele/bolsika (small bag) with the protection elements that resonate with them. Sunday June 15th: Jewish Honey Elixir Workshop Come infuse some honey with us! Honey and beeswax have been used extensively in Jewish ceremonies, in medicine and in folk magic, and Jews have a long, rich history of beekeeping. In this workshop, we will learn about the Jewish history of infusing herbs in honey. Rose petals soaked in honey, for example, were a highly prized medicine across the Middle East during the Middle Ages, including in Jewish communities of those regions. Participants will choose from the selected herbs to make their own honey elixirs, and everyone will take home a small jar of infused local honey. Sunday June 22nd: Jewish Infused Oil Workshop In this workshop we will learn how to infuse herbs in oil, as Jews have done for centuries, for anointing, for protection, for balms and skincare, and for culinary uses. We will learn about multiple herbs that have played important roles in Jewish folk healing traditions across the diaspora. Participants will choose from a range of herbs to make their own infused herbal oil to take home. Register here: https://circleboston.tfaforms.net/95