The Pomegranate, Pardes, Judaic Philosophy and Dementia
Why the Pomegranate?
This article is not about the pomegranate’s exhaustive list of medicinal properties- though I intended to write several dedicated articles on that subject. Instead, it introduces the Empowered Brain Program’s philosophical background which draws from the pomegranate… There is a story behind it.
The pomegranate is a cultural symbol among many ancient traditions of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Near East. It has a beautiful aesthetic inside and out AND I have always loved eating pomegranates since being a kid. However, its philosophical significance pertaining to Judaism holds a special meaning to me personally- both as an individual and as a doctor.
The pomegranate itself is listed in the Torah as one of the Shivat Haminim, one of the seven species of fruits and grains that are special to the Land of Israel. Symbolically it represents beauty and vitality, fruitfulness and fertility, knowledge, learning and wisdom. In addition, its abundant seeds represent the 613 mitzvot or commandments from the Torah.
These different attributes- learning and wisdom, action and fruitfulness are more than unique; they convey a meaningfulness to life on multiple levels. The different levels of meaning are a foundational principle for our Empowered Brain Program, and they are explained below.
The Pomegranate and Pardes
The pomegranate grows in the Pardes, the Hebrew word for orchard - פַּרְדֵּס. This word eventually made its way to English, paradise, via the Persian farsi فردوس-Ferdows, which means both garden and paradise. What is the association between the orchard and paradise?
The orchard gives life. On a basic level it sustains, on deeper levels it elevates.
The word Pardes – פַּרְדֵּס is an acronym. To elaborate further, the construct of Pardes - פַּרְדֵּס in Judaism is a lesson for how to study Torah. Each letter represents a unique level of study, understanding and knowledge and with it the capacity to enrich our lives.
P | Peshat | ְּפְּשָׁט | Peshat means simple and refers to a literal or explicit meaning. |
R | Remez | רֶמֶז | Remez means hint in modern Hebrew, in this context it refers to an alluded meaning. Equivalencies and what is between the lines. |
D | Derash | דְּרָשׁ | Derash refers to interpretative meaning. The lessons and applications imparted. |
S | Sod | סוֹד | Sod means the secret. It refers to the mystical or esoteric understanding. |
Learning is an enriching experience, its limitless nature, depth and meaning. Are learning and healing inherently different?
The Pardes in Healthcare
The mystical orchard, the most original sphere of healing. A life sustaining, fruit bearing and spiritually elevating ecosystem that receives, supports and nurtures each individual upon their entry, according to their needs and capacity.
Within the healthcare setting, every individual arrives with a different need. For most individuals their clinical prompt is disease or dysfunction based, not a loss of internal natural balance and even more so not a loss of connection with the Creator.
It is in fact our separation or distance from the creative force that precipitates a breakdown in the proper function of body systems. In Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine, there is a special term for this: Prajnaparadha - conscious and subconscious distance from harmony with the universe, the root cause of all disease.
Cognitive decline and dementia are the sole focus of our Empowered Brain Program. How can we begin to view the process of working to rehabilitate these syndromes within the Pardes concept?
Peshat: What is the condition an individual suffers from, what is its name? Perhaps we will call it dementia.
Remez: The dementia manifests in the brain tissue and affects cognition, behavior, mood, physical capacity and our relationships. It is more than a condition- it is a dynamic process with dynamic root cause factors.
Derash: Rehabilitating dementia is more than performing neurocognitive tasks, daily exercises and taking supplements. It is embracing a process that has importance beyond the individual. It restores health, strengthens family connections, influences us to encourage health, compassion and positivity in all our interactions.
Sod: Gifts from above are not always recognized according to their deeper purpose. We are obliged, with the tools we are given, and our individual strengths and will, to make our home a dwelling place for the Divine.
The Patient Experience in the Pardes
The abundance of seeds in the pomegranate is representative of the 613 mitzvot. For that reason, the pomegranate is seen as a fruit that stirs one towards positive action. Each seed, within the peal of the fruit, is encapsulated, separate from the other, distinct.
We all knock on the door with a different need. We have different backgrounds, different starting points, however our final destination is universal.
In the Pardes, among the different trees bearing fruit, one awaits for you, with the taste you desire, for the needs with which you seek. May it serve to grant you healing and restoration with orientation, inspiration and strength, the tools for navigation, and with it, meaning and fulfillment.
