About Zait Netofa (Company)
In 2002, two families from Mitzpe Netofa founded Zait Hanetofa , a company that grows,produces,and markets strictly kosher, pressed, olive oil and natural honey, jams, liqueurs,cosmetics, and olives soap.
At Zait Hanetofa they produce only the extra virgin olive oil cold press, that bears the qualityseal of the Israeli olive council.
The Seven Species
When the Lord brings the children of Israel into the land, he tells them:
“for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valley and hills; a land of WHEAT and BARLEY, of VINES and FIG trees and POMEGRANATES, a land of OLIVE OIL and HONEY.”
Each of the above mentioned items are indigenous to the Land of Israel and have provided over the millennia the lushness and richness in the land.
Pomegranate: This ripe red fruit with edible seed blossoms in the summer months and is ready for eating in September, just around the time of the Rosh HaShanah holiday. Said that there are 613 seeds inside each pomegranate remembering the 613 positive and negative commandments God gave at Mount Sinai. The pomegranate has always been symbol of royalty and authority. Indeed, the priests garments were lined at the hem with little bells in the shape of a pomegranate.
The only remnant form the first Temple ever found is an ivory pomegranate about the size of a thumbnail. Inscribed on it in Ancient Hebrew is “for the service of Yaweh”. It is though to be from a scepter of the priest, and is on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Biblical references to the pomegranate: Ex. 28:33, I Kings 7:20
Olive Oil: The olive tree can live for hundred and hundreds of years and continually bear fruit. As one of the main crops of the land of Israel, it was carefully nurtured to provide both the fruit and the oil to the ancient word.
Since the major value of the olive is the oil, and thirty percent of the oil is in the pit, both the pulp and pit must be crushed and pressed to achieve maximum value.
There are four main pressings for the olive.
The first pressing: this is the cleanest and purest oil. It was used for anointing kings and priests. The first pressing is also known as virgin olive oil.
The second pressing: this also is exceptionally fine and clean. It is used for cooking and eating.
The third pressing: By the third pressing, little bits of pit and pulp filter into the oil, but it is still good for making soap and cleaning objects.
The fourth pressing: At the last pressing the oil is already "dirty" but still usable. It was used for light in oil lamps. That's why if you purchase an ancient oil lamp, you will generally find some soot around the wick area from the burning of dirty oil.
Biblical reference: I Samuel 10:1 Kings 6:23
Fig Tree: Figs are used extensively in the diet of the people of the Land.
The tree bears fruit for several months of the year. Cakes were made from dried figs.
The Biblical idea of peace and prosperity was portrayed as:
"…everyone able to sit down under their own vine and fig tree."
Biblical reference: Amos 7:14, Luke 19:4
Date Palm: The date palm grows exceedingly tall and straight with the fruit blossoming under huge leaves, hanging in long clusters.
Today some breeds of date palms are able to produce between two hundred fifty kilos of dates per tree per year!!
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people greeted him waving date palm leaves.
Biblical reference: John 12:13
The Vine: Referring to grape vines, this is one of the most important fruit crops in the Land. Depending on the part of the country wherein the vines were planted, some were low to the ground on rocky terrain and some were grown on trailers above the ground. At harvest time grapes were crushed in the wine presses by barefoot workers, crushing the pulp but not the seed of the grape which would make the vine bitter. Some juices were used immediately as a drink while some were put into skins and left to ferment and mature into fine vine.
Today some of Israel's finest wines are grown on the Golan Heights. Where warm days and cool or cold nights are perfect for producing sweet wines.
Biblical reference: Jesus described the grape vine in 5 parables and called himself the true vine on which the branches depend.
Matthew 9:17
Wheat and Barley: The basic grains used for daily diet in ancient times. The mainstay of the diet of the people of Galilee in Jesus' day was Barley bread and salted fish. Jesus tells his disciples, 'I am the bread of life."
Biblical reference: Multiplication of loaves and fishes: Matthew 14:15-21.
Spice up your food with seasonings from Israel.
Cooking with Israeli seasonings will give your food a special, distinctive flavor.
All seasonings are grown and packaged in Israel.
With Israel seasonings, your food will taste great while you support Israeli farmers!
