Hebrew: צְנוֹנִית, tzenonit
Family: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
Scientific name: Raphanus sativus
Baby radish is a radish variety, where the root eaten is smaller than that of standard radish. The radish is an edible annual vegetable with thick roots from the Cruciferae family. Like other plants from this family, oil can be extracted from its seeds for consumption or medicinal purposes. The radish contains various compounds, likely to protect the plant from pests. These compounds are stored in the plant’s cells. When exposed to oxygen, they break down releasing an unpleasant odor and taste.
While the radish is not mentioned in the Bible, it is mentioned often in the Mishnah. The Sages note that one of the signs of the affluence of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi (Rabbi Judah the Prince) and Antoninus was that radish was never absent from their tables, neither during the cold or warm seasons. However, some argue that radish was eaten as a wild vegetable in earlier periods as well. The radish is categorized by the Mishnah as a field crop. Today, too, there are many wild varieties that resemble the cultivated radish in appearance and taste. During the Mishnah period, many plants began to be used, especially those that could be eaten or used to extract oil (such as mustard). There is no doubt that the tsenon mentioned in the Mishnah is the same as the radish we know today.
Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting: annuals & grapevines): Radish is classified as a vegetable, so it should not be planted too close to other edible annuals or grapevines. The Mishnah notes that radish is a distinct species from nafuts, apparently another species from the Cruciferae family with an edible root.
Shabbat, terumot & ma’aserot (Sabbath, offerings & tithes): The edible section of the radish is its root. In light of this, if the plant is uprooted and reinserted into the ground, it may take root in the soil again. The Sages discussed the cases in which removing radish from the ground is considered uprooting (vis-a-vis the laws of Shabbat) and the obligation of terumot and ma’aserot in these cases. An additional implication is the obligation of the seeds, which are not eaten on their own, in terumot and ma’aserot.
Sharp foods: The radish is one of the plants classified as the Sages due to the compounds that impart a sharp taste and smell.
