The almond tree is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible and is one of the more beautiful springtime blossoms of Israel. Shaqed in Hebrew, the word for almond means alert, watchful, on the lookout, and/or sleepless. As one of the first blooms of the spring (February), the almond has come to represent a modern euphemism for someone who is ‘ahead of his time’.

In the Hebrew Bible the almond is referenced as:

• Part of the gift that Jacob’s sons take to Joseph (Gen. 43:11)
• Part of the design of the golden lamp stand in the tabernacle (Exod. 25:33-34; 37:19-20)
• The staff of Aaron that came to represent the authority of both Moses and Aaron (Num. 17:8)
• The “watching tree” from Jeremiah 1:11-12.

The cover photo was taken in Gezer, Israel in the spring of 2012.