Page 30 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Mrs. Shira Smiles

The Whisper of the Trees

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

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