The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers tells the story of the Judean Date Palm. The tree had been extinct for over 1000 years. In 70CE the Romans under Titus destroyed the temple and burned the villages of the Jews. He had taken the Jews for slaves or dispersed them across their empire so there was no one left to tend the land. Over the years the final trees died and the land lay desolate of the once beautiful and prosperous groves that supplied the known world with the sweetest dates.

Masada was the last stronghold of the Jews. Titus sent 10,000 soldiers up the mountain to conquer 967 men. women, and children. It was always the hope that the Jews would one day return from their dispersion to the land God had given them through Abraham. In 1963 the archaeologist Yigael Yadin with permission from the Israeli government, established in 1948, took a crew of archeologists from around the world to dig on the mountain of Masada. They found baskets, clothes, coins, arrows, and clay jars. Inside one of the clay jars were six Judean Date Palm seeds. Most of the treasures discovered by the archeologists were placed in a museum. The seeds however were placed in a drawer at the Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv. There they remained until 2004. Dr. Sarah Sallon who specialized in children’s digestive diseases asked for permission to try to revive the ancient seeds. She was given 3 seeds. She contacted Dr. Elaine Solowey Director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at the Arava Institue for help with the seeds. Together they started the process to see if the ancient seeds would germinate.

The Miracle Seed is a graphic novel for children 8-14. It is a great addition to STEM lessons. Topics from the book may include:

• History of the Jews – whose land is it?
• Agriculture and trade
• Biblical names and their importance then and now
• Archeology
• Seed germination
• Plant care
• Pollination
• Medicine from old remedies to modern medicine
• Inspirational quotes

Parents and children will encounter new dating abbreviations BCE (BC) and CE (AD). There are references to Jewish writing – Genesis Rabba and Tu B’shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees. These would offer studies in Jewish culture, history, and traditions.

I found this book to be fascinating. The pictures are colorful and engaging. I give it 5 stars!

I need to find my stash of seeds and see how many will germinate before planting time arrives. See you in the garden. Gail Cartee

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