Tablet Magazine

Chickpeas were one of the first legumes to be cultivated by humans. Evidence of wild chickpeas dating back to 8000 BCE was discovered in Tell el-Kerkh, in present-day Syria. Called chometz in Hebrew, chickpeas are only mentioned once in the Bible, in Isaiah 30:24: “The oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat salted chometz (chickpeas) that have been winnowed with shovel and fan.” The Jerusalem Talmud refers to several varieties of chickpeas, or khimtza in Aramaic, that vary in size and color. Chickpeas were known to the ancient Egyptians and were cultivated in Thailand as far back as 7000 BCE. They were also grown by the ancient Greeks, who used them to make soups and stews. Young, tender, fresh chickpeas, as well as roasted chickpeas, were often served by the Greeks for dessert, together with nuts and figs. Chickpeas were even mentioned, along with black beans, in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. Since ancient times, chickpeas have been a symbol of prosperity and good fortune and appeared in the celebrations and festive rites of various cultures to signify fertility and renewal. The ancient Romans associated the chickpea with Venus—the goddess of love— because they believed they increased the production of semen in men, and milk in nursing mothers. It is customary for Jews, especially Ashkenazi Jews, to celebrate a shalom zachar, a gathering that takes place on the first Friday after the birth of a boy. For this occasion, the refreshments usually include chickpeas, because they are often served to mourners as a symbol of the cycle of life. One interpretation of the reason for this is that the baby’s soul is in mourning, because it has come down to a world full of negativity and degradation. Another explanation is that while in the womb, the baby is taught the entire Torah, but after his birth, an angel descends and strikes him on the mouth, which causes him to forget everything he has learned. As a result, the baby is thought of as a “mourner.” So even though the shalom zachar is considered a happy occasion, people come to the home to console him. Thus, the chickpeas. ...

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