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Article: Under the tamarisk tree
- Article from:
- Jerusalem Post
- Article date:
- June 28, 1996
- Author:
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D'VORA BEN SHAUL
Jerusalem Post
06-28-1996
WHEN, as the Bible tells us, Abraham entertained his guests in the shade of a tamarisk tree, he knew exactly why. Well-versed in desert lore, the Patriarch knew that there was no place so cool or so conducive to rest as the shade of a tamarisk tree. Animals of the desert also know this if you want to see desert gazelles in the heat of the day just look for the tamarisks.
The tamarisk (Tamarix in Latin, eshel in Hebrew), bears no fruit, yet we are told that Abraham planted such trees, for shade. Because the tamarisk thrives in even salty soil, small salt crystals form on the branches. At night these salt crystals collect moisture salt is ...