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TORONTO -- For over 1,300 years, the secret of techelet, the blue dye that was used, not only for Jewish ritual, but by royalty and priests all over the ancient Mediterranean world, was lost.
This blue dye, explained Dr. Baruch Sterman in a speech at B'nai Torah Congregation sponsored by Mizrachi of Canada, was so rare that it was worth 20 times its weight in gold.
Wars were fought over it, such as the one between the prophetess Devorah and her general Barak and Sisera," Sterman said, quoting the hope of Sisera's mother that "he will bring back booty of the dyed fabric."
So rare was the dye that the Roman Empire passed laws that Jews not only couldn't wear it, but couldn't even be part of the industry, Sterman said.
In 650 CE, when the Arabs conquered...