May
Emerald, the green stone of spring, is the birthstone of May. Learn where its name comes from, how its quality is judged, and the meanings long tied to it.
Those born in May are calm people. The birthstone of those born in May is the green emerald, a beautiful stone that symbolizes growth, calm and balance. Bareket, known by its foreign name emerald, is the birthstone of the month of May. It comes in shades of green, and its color is caused by the influence of the mineral chromium. The green gemstone is mined at various sites around the world, but what is distinctive about it is that you can tell from its color and the nature of its inclusions which region of the world it came from.
The origin of the name emerald
The stone was called smaragdos (green), and in Greek its name evolved into azmargad; by way of Old French and Middle English its name changed to emerald.
The bareket in Judaism
The bareket is mentioned in the Bible several times, principally in the description of the breastplate - it is the third stone in the first row of the breastplate and is attributed to the tribe of Levi. There is admittedly no description of the stones, and so it is not known with certainty that this is the same stone; nevertheless, in Hebrew the identification of the biblical bareket with the emerald has taken root.
Midrash Talpiyot, the book of Rabbi Eliyahu HaKohen of the 17th–18th century, who lived in Izmir, Turkey, writes of the bareket that "Levi is inscribed upon bareket, and it is so called because it sparkles like lightning (barak) and shines like a candle, and Onkelos translated it barkan. And it is called ekdach, as it is said: 'and thy gates of carbuncle stones' (avnei ekdach), because it burns like an ember, and this is from the language of those who kindle fire; and it was given to Levi because the tribe of Levi gave light through the Torah, as it is said: 'They shall teach Thy ordinances'; and Moses, who was of the tribe of Levi, when he was born the house was filled with light, and the skin of his face shone, as it is said: 'A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine.' And its special virtue is that it makes the simple wise and gives light to the eyes, quite apart from the fact that its very substance is used as a lamp; and they say that if it is ground and mixed into food and drink it greatly helps to make one wise and to open the heart."
According to the commentary "Shiltei HaGiborim" by Rabbi Yehoshua Boaz ben Shimon Baruch, the bareket "makes the simple wise and gives light to the eyes in the Torah".
The emerald stone: virtues and properties
The bareket is considered a stone that relieves stress and brings physical, emotional and spiritual balance. The stone helps in times of change and assists in seeing new directions. It is also regarded as purifying negative energies, and according to Indian belief the bareket instils abundance, tranquillity, wellbeing and good fortune. On the physical side, the stone is considered helpful in treating problems of vision, breathing and the back.
Historical background on the bareket
The bareket is considered one of the most precious gemstones in nature. Its use is known as far back as ancient Egypt, where bareket stones were found among the objects of the embalmed. Egypt was the principal source of the stone in antiquity, and the stones mined there were traded in India and in Europe. The bareket's fame reached its height when the Spanish discovered magnificent stones in South America.
Legends about the bareket
Many fantastical stories have attached themselves to the bareket over the years. The Aztecs believed it was sacred; some believe that Hermes Trismegistus, who according to belief was a fusion of the Greek god of wisdom and magic, Hermes, with the Egyptian god Thoth, engraved laws of magic on a tablet of bareket known as the "Emerald Tablet". According to certain beliefs the Holy Grail is made of bareket.
Mining the bareket
The main mining countries are Zambia, Colombia, Brazil and Russia.
Alternative stone - green tourmaline
Choosing a May emerald
The vivid green of the emerald has made it one of the most prized colored stones for rings. Because emerald color and clarity vary widely by origin, comparing certified stones from a direct supplier is well worth the effort; Israel Diamonds offers certified loose emeralds (opens in new tab) you can set to your own design.
