Timeless Torah

Believe it or not, the Talmud is big on the Zodiac. The sign of this month, Sh’vat, is the Dipper. A dipper is a utensil that enables one to draw water. Without one you could be close to a well and still not be able to obtain this life-giving liquid. While humans must strive to obtain water, plant life soaks it up naturally.

Of course, that brings to mind the Talmudic statement that the l5th of Sh’vat is the Rosh Hashana for Trees, for it is during this time of year that trees in the Holy Land end their winter dormancy and come back to life. The relevance of a New Year for Trees can be found in the verse in Deuteronomy that compares man to a tree in the field. Moses though, is not the only Jewish thinker who sees man in terms of vegetation. King David the Psalmist expressed it this way. “Man’s days are like grass; as a flower of the field so does he flourish. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone and its place is no more known.”

In many ways grass and trees are alike. They each draw their nourishment from the earth and water, and in the early stages of their life it would be difficult to distinguish between the two. But as time progresses, the difference becomes more marked. Grass and flowers reach their maturity in a relatively short time. Soon they wither, losing their beauty and usefulness at the end of one season.

Not so the tree. From its humble beginnings it develops into a plant that serves the world both in ornamental and utilitarian ways for many years to come. It offers shade, a resting place for birds, a storehouse for squirrels and fruits that benefit many creatures. Even after the tree is cut down, its usefulness does not end. The wood remains forever to serve us.

Why is it that the Torah at times compares man to grass and at other times to a tree? When the term “Adam” is used, it depicts a human being who considers the welfare of his fellow man. As he grows older, he becomes a greater source of inspiration and benefit to all. Even as he passes on his memory serves as an inspiration. This “Adam” is a tree. Man, when compared to grass, is in the words of King David an “Enosh.” This term, also describing homo sapiens, reflects the self-centered individual who is abandoned in his old age. Like the flower that is beautiful but actually serves no practical function, this type of person may at first attract a lot of attention; however we soon grow bored with him.

Flowers and trees cannot change their destiny. Man can. Being anAdam or Enosh is ours to choose. Dipping into the wells of our heritage may require some effort, yet the fruits of our labor are well worth it.