Swiss Chard

Hebrew: מַנְגּוֹלְד, mangold
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Scientific Name: Beta. vulgaris var. vulgaris

The beet is a biennial plant from the Chenopodiaceae family. The common beet has various cultivars, some of which are grown for their edible root (the fruit), including red beet and sugar beet—the latter being a major source of the world’s white sugar. Other cultivars are grown for their leaves. One example is Swiss chard whose leaves have a distinct bitter-sour taste.

The Mishnah does not mention the word seleq or beet, but the plant is commonly identified with the Mishnaic teradim or le’unim. The teradim are mentioned in several contexts: kilei zera’im, as a species similar to le’unim; the laws of food mixtures, as a food that emits flavor when cooked; and the laws of ritual purity, in which context the common identification is the plant leaves, commonly known as Swiss chard or Mangold. The plant was domesticated in the Mediterranean and is consumed as a vegetable.

There are wild beet varieties that are edible. In the Talmud, the beet leaves are called silka, and were used in the anigron drink concocted for medicinal purposes.

The le’unim is also a possible identification for the beet leaves, mentioned once in the Mishnah in the context of kilei zera’im, as a species similar to teradim. Note that according to commentaries and modern scholars, the teradim of the Mishnah are not the same as the vegetable commonly known in modern Hebrew as tered, or spinach (Spinacia oleracea, a leafy green from the same family). Spinach originates from Central Asia. It arrived in our region following the Muslim conquest.

Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting mixed species – annuals & grapevine): Beets are classified as vegetables, so they should not be planted near other edible annuals or grapevines.

Infestation: Like many vegetables with edible leaves (leafy vegetables), it is heavily infested. It is important to carefully inspect the leaves before consumption if grown in a home garden.

Kedushat shevi’it (Sabbatical-year sanctity): Swiss chard should be treated as having kedushat shevi’it, since it is used for human consumption.