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The Tree



A man was travelling through the desert, hungry, thirsty, and tired, when he came upon a tree bearing luscious fruit and affording plenty of shade, underneath which ran a spring of water. He ate of the fruit, drank of the water, and rested beneath the shade.

When he was about to leave he turned to the tree and said: 'Tree, oh, tree, with what should I bless you?

"Should I bless you that your fruit be sweet? Your fruit is already sweet.

"Should I bless you that your shade be plentiful? Your shade is plentiful. That a spring of water should run beneath you? A spring of water runs beneath you."

"There is one thing with which I can bless you: May it be G-d's will that all the trees planted from your seed should be like you..."


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Talmud, Taanit 5b
Image: detail from an illustration by Chassidic artist Michoel Muchnik.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Nov 7, 2009
Talmudic Stories
Wow.What a fabulous story.Short,concise and full of wisdom.I've been faithfully doing daily tehillim and now daily davening and hebrew study.This story made me want to see what else in the Talmud that I am missing out on by not studying it.My 11 yr old just started learning Talmud at school this year...the more I learn..the more I want to learn...thanks for having so much on this website to access!
Posted By Shulamit Taylor, Scripps Ranch, CA

Posted: May 8, 2009
This Tree, This Torah, This Life, This Day
The man who is tired is man who spends his time in worldly pursuits. He lives in the desert just like our forefathers. Like them too he is rescued by Torah. The Torah is the Tree that flourishes in an oasis there in the wilderness. Its water are the many connections that are made between man and G-d, its fruit are the many midrashim that our sages continue to make and it's shade is the protection that Torah offers to those seeking shelter from the mundane world.
Posted By Mark Siet, San Clemente, CA

Posted: Apr 17, 2009
Meaning
The tree represents us, and how we are to act. Do we offer food, shade and water to the needy?
The seeds represent our Children, and if we teach them to care for those who G-D directes us then we will be leading our Children to follow our example, and do what is right before G-D as well.
Posted By Rabbi Baruch, Sherman, TX



 


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