Herbal tea is extremely important to Jews, as it is to many peoples around the world. Herbal teas are enjoyed from childhood and throughout life as an accessible form of healthcare and nutrition. Many Jews have paired the practice of preparing tea with the reciting of Psalms in a beautiful custom for staying in balance spiritually and physically. In this class, we will learn about traditional Jewish herbal teas from across the diaspora, from herbal teas drunk to support digestion to those taken as amulets for spiritual protection. We will also explore Jewish rituals, remedies, teachings and customs relating to tea.

Naomi Spector is an ethnoherbalist, plant historian, and educator whose practice draws on Sefardi, Ashkenazi, and Mediterranean plant traditions. She is the author of The Jewish Book of Flowers.

Naomi is also a passionate educator, and has led courses and workshops through both bibi and ni and partnerships with other organizations including various synagogues. Topics have included introductory Jewish herbalism, Sefardi herbalism, Jewish end-of-life herbalism, Jewish amulets, Jewish honey elixirs, Jewish flower teachings, and more. She holds a Masters of Arts in Education from Tufts University. She is one of the co-creators of the Jewish Herbalists Network, an affinity group within the Jewish Farmer Network, and was the keynote speaker at LimmudFest Atlanta 2023. Some of her favorite plants include garlic, pomegranate and chamomile.