The Witches’ Tree

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Sit and rest for a moment in the shade of the tree, and enjoy the cool shade and the patterns of light and shadows through the leaves. This green entanglement is called the Witches Tree by the children of the moshav, because of its twisting branches and the mysterious atmosphere created under its canopy. But its official name is the Bengal Fig, and it belongs to the Moraceae (fig) family. It was brought to Israel from India, where it is considered the national tree. In India and in Africa as well, it grows wild in nature.

Our Witches Tree started out as a small sapling that was planted over seventy years ago. The Bengal Fig has a special trait: when it searches for water and food, its branches sprout roots in the air that descend, attach to the soil, and then become thick like ordinary trunks. Thanks to these aerial roots, the tree spreads quickly, growing tall and wide, and today, it fills almost the entire width of the boulevard. A decision was recently made to prune the interior of the tree, creating a hollow area that can be entered. Please respect the ancient tree and do not climb on it.