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Plants of the BibleVideoArts & Culture

Carob: the gift of heritage

In its Jewish heritage, there's so much more to carob than its reputation as a disappointing substitute for chocolate.
Marlo Newton
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Carob pods

There’s more significance to this plant in Jewish heritage than you’ll find in modern health bars.

Published: 28 May 2025

Last updated: 12 June 2025

Modern users mostly know carob as a poor substitute for chocolate but in Jewish tradition it carries a weightier significance.

In this video, from our Plants of the Bible series, Australian-turned-Israeli Elly Waller shares two meanings of carob, one of the significant plants at Neot Kedumim, Israel's Biblical Landscape park.

Watch more Plants of the Bible videos here.

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About the author

Marlo Newton

Marlo Newton

Marlo L Newton is an enthusiastic historian and Jewish educator. She is Head of Philanthropy at The Alfred Foundation, Melbourne.

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