The Sweet Meaning of Dates in Jewish Life and Holidays

On our last family trip, we visited relatives in the Jordan Valley. In their yard stood tall, beautiful date palms, full of sweet fruit. My kids were amazed because they’d only seen dates in boxes at the store or arranged in the market. Seeing them on the tree felt magical, like something from a storybook. Even I was taken in by their beauty. When we tasted the Medjool dates from the last harvest, they were so soft and flavorful that we felt like we were eating a real date for the first time.

Dates have grown in Israel for thousands of years, and they’re known and loved all over the world. Here are some special things to know about this sweet and meaningful fruit:

What Are Dates?
Dates grow on palm trees in warm places like the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. They’re full of good nutrients like vitamins A, C, B6, and E, plus potassium, magnesium, iron, and more. They also contain antioxidants that can help protect the body from illness.

A Very Useful Fruit
Dates are delicious on their own, but you can also bake or cook with them. In some places, people make date wine, vinegar, or syrup (called silan). Because they’re full of natural sugar, dates give great energy especially for people who are sick or recovering.

So Many Kinds
There are about 2,000 kinds of dates in the world. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. In Israel, people especially love the Medjool date, which is grown widely in the Jordan Valley. It’s soft, large, and very sweet.

A Taste of Luxury
Medjool dates are known as the most expensive kind of date. They originally came from Morocco, but now they grow beautifully in Israel. These dates used to be sold in fancy boxes at airports as gifts from Israel and they’re still considered a special treat today.

A Fruit Full of Blessings
Dates have a deep connection to Jewish life. They’re mentioned many times in the Torah, in Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. Dates are one of the Seven Species of the Land of Israel and are seen as a symbol of blessing and plenty. Their many seeds remind us of the hope for many good deeds and merits.

On Rosh Hashanah, dates are one of the first fruits we bless. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef writes that we should say the “Borei Pri Ha’etz” blessing on a date before any other fruit, and then eat it again while saying the special “Yehi Ratzon” prayer. If it’s the first time eating dates that season, we also say the “Shehechiyanu” blessing, which includes all the new fruits on the table.

The Rosh Hashanah “Yehi Ratzon” for dates:
“May it be Your will that our enemies, haters, and those who wish us harm be finished.”
(Some also add: “May our sins end.”)

Amen and amen!