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GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Mrs. Shira Smiles

The Whisper

of the Trees

magine we’re taking a stroll in the yetzer hara, we strengthen the beauty diminished. In Darchei Mussar, Rav
woods, enjoying the majesty of of our ‘trees’ and the ‘trees’ around us. Yaakov Neiman points out that this is
Ithe tall trees surrounding us. If we our ability to smile and offer kind and
listen closely we can almost hear the Towering Trunks encouraging words. We’ve all experi-
trees talking to us – their roots, leaves enced how a well-placed compliment
and stature conveying a message for our We can now throw back our heads can lift our entire mood and even alter
lives. Indeed, the Torah compares man and peer up at the height of these our self-perception. Like the shade of
to the tree of the field; the inspiration regal trees. Height is the second the tree, it doesn’t cost us anything yet
in the waving branches is relevant to us lesson Chazon LaMoed learns from its benefits are tremendous.
not only on Tu BiShvat but the entire the trees that is a direct message to us.
year. Like trees, Jews walk with their heads Beautiful Fruit
held high. We’ve been granted special
Sturdy Roots gifts and a mission directly from the As we look up at the branches, we
King of Kings. As His ambassadors, observe the fruits, which contain the
Let’s start from the roots, buried deep we can be filled with pride. seeds and potential for new saplings
beneath the soil snaking upward to to sprout and grow. Chazon LaMoed
the forest floor. As we know, they The tree’s great height also protects highlights how a tree can be put into
are not there only for stability; they us from inappropriate pride. The the ground and produce another tree.
extract the nutrients and moisture tree stretches upward into the sky, This is a special gift given to each of
from the soil and carry them upward making us aware of the vast expanse us: the ability to produce many others,
to nourish the foliage and fruit. Rav we must traverse in fulfilling our goals both physically and spiritually.
Aryeh Leib HaKohen Shapira, in and mission – and instilling humil-
Chazon LaMoed, points out that this ity within us. Instead of the cynical As we raise our young, our attitude,
upward motion is counter to the pull or self-deprecating comments that explains the Piaseczna Rebbe in
of gravity – usually, things are drawn come so easily to our lips, we can Chovat HaTalmidim, should be an
downward. The symbolism is pro- practice a different script – one that agricultural one. A farmer constantly
found for our lives. both acknowledges the talents and tends his crops, ensuring the wheat be
successes of our lives while crediting tall and golden, that the vegetables are
The Netivot Shalom notes that the Hashem for these gifts – and recog- picked at optimal ripeness. He’ll add
roots of a tree correspond to a per- nize how much more He expects of fertilizer to the soil, protect his pro-
son’s middot, which form his foun- each of us. duce from insects or foraging animals
dation. Just as healthy roots produce and is constantly aware of his crops’
a healthy tree, similarly good middot Canopy of Shade progress. As parents, we have to look
form the foundation of a true eved to the future. We’re not just raising
Hashem. Exercising our middot As we continue to gaze at the top of good children, but future adults. Our
enables us to counter the gravitational the trees we come to appreciate the fruits, carefully tended, will grow to
pull of our inclinations and desires. beautiful shade they afford us. Chazon be the luscious results of the journey
LaMoed explains that the beauty of
When our characters are firmly the shade is in its constancy. In offer- from root to fruit.
grounded in good middot, we have ing us this special gift – and who
both the strength and refinement to doesn’t know the palpable relief of
deal with the many challenges we face finding a spot of shade on a hot after-
constantly. By behaving in ways that
run counter to the knee-jerk reac- noon – the tree is not diminished. Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after interna-
tion of blame, anger or frustration, by Likewise, there’s an aspect of us tional lecturer, a popular seminary teacher,
resisting the gravitational pull of the that can give “shade” without being and an experienced curriculum developer.

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