Jewish tradition celebrates 2 New years; The 1st calendar month in spring historically came after the barley harvest. The High Holidays in Fall mark the creation of the world. Harvest to harvest – the perfect bookends for deliciousness! Arise noble Rejewvenator, infused for ‘08 with the sacred succulent Fig. O the history, O the shtick: Gen 3:7: "And their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked; they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons." Time to get cooking! "Professed Wrestlers and Champions were in times past fed with figs." -Pliny, Roman naturalist. Romulus, mythic founder of Rome, and his twin Remus were nursed by a wild she-wolf under a fig tree. In 1857, Queen Victoria commissioned an 18 inch plaster fig leaf to adorn her cast of Michelangelo’s David. "The statue that advertises its modesty with a fig leaf brings its modesty under suspicion." -Mark Twain. Buddha gained enlightenment meditating beneath a fig tree. Zechariah/Micah: "Nations shall beat their swords into plowshares…all will sit with his neighbor under his fig tree, with no one to be afraid." Fear not Shmaltzers – Grab your Newtons, rub your happy belly, strap on your fig leaf and your championship belt, abd prepare to blow your shofar… tis a new HE’BREW Beer season to rejoice. L’Chaim!
