Shoftim: Like A Tree in the Field

"A man is a tree in the field…" (Deuteronomy 20:19).

Why does the Torah call man, "A tree of the field"? Rebbe Nachman teaches us to search for the wisdom in every creation, for we can apply it in our lives to get closer to Hashem. There's much to learn from trees, for they are exemplary in the prodigious lessons that we can learn from them, especially in Elul. Here are a few:

1. Trees have a wonderful influence on their environment. The Zohar teaches that those who give come from the side of holiness; in that case, trees are surely holiness for they give so much to all levels of creation. They prevent erosion and aerate the soil. They provide shelter to birds and animals. They give shade, beauty, fruit and lumber to man.

2. A tree takes nothing more from the earth than its barest necessities.

3. When a tree performs charitable deeds for the worthy, such as bees, it benefits. But, when it gives to the unworthy, such as the termites, it suffers.

4. The more a tree casts its roots deep into the earth, the more it gains vitality. In like manner, the more a Jew is rooted in Torah and in the traditions of our ancestors, the more spiritually indestructible he becomes.

5. The more a tree's roots are broad, the more stable it is. This is an allusion to a Jew's wide breadth of Torah knowledge; this too is his stability against strange winds and the evil inclination.

6. A diseased tree must be severely pruned back to encourage new and stronger growth. In like manner, a Jew with diseased character traits such as arrogance must minimize himself to make new and positive character growth.

7. A tree that yields fruit too early, such as in the first three years of its life, does so at the expense of longevity, vitality and root development. In like manner, a person shouldn't attempt premature study of Kabbala until his soul is developed enough through adequate Talmudic learning to handle this bright light.

8. A tree that doesn't receive water will yield scant and inferior fruit. In like manner, a person without Torah cannot expect to have upright and successful offspring, for the Torah is compared to water. If the lack of water is extreme, the tree's very life is threatened. So too, the Jewish People cannot exist without Torah.

9. Each species of trees yields its own characteristic fruit. So too, a person must rejoice in his or her own uniqueness.

10. Trees never give up; when they're cut back, they simple grow back. This is a beautiful metaphor for the Jewish People.

11. Trees constantly grow upward, in the direction of light. We too must strive to ascend constantly, always growing in the direction of Divine light trying to get closer to Hashem.

12. The date is the prize of tree fruit, yet the date palm's wood is worthless. The cedar has prime wood, but it yields no fruit. That's why King David says in Psalm 92:13 that a tzaddik shall flower like a date palm and grow tall like a cedar. This is the double blessing of personal excellence and successful, plentiful offspring. May we all be so fortunate, amen!