Depressing, but true...

Hi,

Don Isaac Abarbanel comments on the fourth chapter of Daniel, in which powerful King Nevuchadnezzar has a dream in which he sees himself as a tree:

"Man is a tree of the field. He is like that great, tall, beautiful tree, which must grow, exist, and then be destroyed."

(Abarbanel, Maayanei haYeshuah, Maayan 6, Tamar 5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Planting trees vs greeting Mashiach

Hi,

"R' Yochanan ben Zakkai taught...If you are planting a tree and a person comes to you and tells you, 'Mashiach has arrived,' plant the tree and  then go to greet Mashiach."

(Avot d'Rabbi Natan, 2nd edition, 31)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The importance of planting

Hi,

"If a sapling is in your hand and you are told, "Mashiach is here", plant the sapling and then go greet him."

(Avot d'Rabbi Natan II 31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shocking others

Hi,

"Street merchants, those who raise weak breeds of animals [which consume more than they produce], those who cut down good trees and those who seek to receive the greater portion will never see a sign of blessing. Why? Because people are shocked [in a negative way] by them."

(Talmud, Pesachim 50b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Be the tree

Hi,

"The Torah compares people to trees, but there are four kinds of trees:

"One is the thorn, which no one will take, for it is useless. It was created only to harm others; these are the wicked…

"The second is the bramble, and people take shelter beneath its branches and leaves; these are people who engage in the way of the world.

"The third is the fruit tree, like those who perform mitzvot and are compared to a fruit… but people do not benefit from the body of the tree, itself.

"The fourth is the cedar, regarding which people benefit from the body of the tree, in construction. This is like a person of Torah; the person is purified in all of his travels and ways, even in his normal conversation. Still, some cedars are better for one person’s construction and some for a mast for a ship at sea and so it supports thousands of people; so there is a scholar who is good for those who are around him, near to him, and then there is a scholar who leads his world, like the captain of a ship. This is the meaning of “Like cedars upon the water,” that we use them on the water."

(Netziv, Haamek Davar to Bamidbar 24:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai