By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
This parasha may be an environmentalist’s dream. It says, “When you besiege a city for an extended period, to make war against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field a man (or, for man is like the tree of the field), that you should besiege it?”
Is this a question or a statement?
The Ibn Ezra sees it as a statement, Ki Haadam eitz hasadeh, “The human being is a tree of the field.” He believed we are intertwined with the environment. Destroy a tree, and we destroy ourselves.
The Targum Yonatan similarly drew a metaphor and took this verse to mean, “Don’t hurt the tree – is the tree a person that would feel pain?”
For more than 3,000 years, our ancestors have held far-reaching concern about our environment. Judaism extends concern beyond trees to include the destruction of anything that benefits mankind, which the parasha describes as bal tashchit, “do not destroy.” If plant and animal life are affected, we are taught, so too is human life. We are not set apart from nature, and we are not to waste any resources of nature.
The Sefer HaChinuch further teaches us the real message of bal taschit – to avoid senseless damage, waste, evil, to work authentically to improve our world, to build and do good. Isn’t this what life is about and isn’t this a beautiful message at this time in the days and weeks leading to Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur? Are you a builder or a destroyer? Are you someone who cuts down or promotes?
If we are the “tree of the field,” and we are, then how can we grow well rooted, well anchored, and blossom in our attachment to Hashem, to Torah and to Judaism?
One answer to this question may be found in the opening verses of our Torah portion this week, in which we are instructed to create a just, evenhanded, unbiased, and moral judicial system when settling the Land of Israel, “tzedek tzedek tirdof,” “Justice, Justice you shall pursue.” Both within ourselves, one tzedek, and within our community, the second tzedek, we can glean an answer to how we can grow in our attachment to Torah, especially during this month of Elul, preparing for the High Holidays and Yom Hadin, the Day of Judgment.
This is a time we look within and truly, critically, judge our actions as having universal consequence as we begin the process of teshuvah. This requires honestly partnering with Hashem for meaningful transformation and ultimate contentment and completion. This is not a time for sidestepping the truth, ignoring our flaws, or for that matter taking on more burden and responsibility than is ours for errors made in the past. It is a time for setting ourselves up to be our own impartial, true, peaceful judge with unconditional self-acceptance, and with self-compassion.
On Rosh Hashanah, Hashem serves as our judge, while every weekday morning during Elul the shofar pushes us out of our transcendent complacency and awakens us to assess ourselves. Maimonides teaches that this is our soul’s alarm clock: “The shofar’s call says: Wake up you sleepy ones from your sleep and you who slumber, arise! Inspect your deeds, repent, remember your Creator… Look to your souls. Improve your ways and your deeds and let every one of you abandon his/her evil path and thoughts.”
This is our time to plow that which is in our way to reseed, to ensure every blade of grass in our life is properly fed and to ensure that we are spiritually well fertilized. Our faith in Hashem, our Creator, is the ultimate nourishment for our growth, and serves as the foundation of our being a “tree of the field.”
Trees without well-anchored foundations don’t last. At this time of our calendar year, we can move past weaknesses and develop into strong, abundant trees of life. Prayer is our greatest tool for self-reflection and rekindling ourselves. Indeed, l’hitpallel “to pray,” is commonly translated “to judge oneself.”
As we move through this auspicious month of Elul, guided by Shoftim, may we inspire peace, harmony, and truth within ourselves and within our community, bringing a favorable judgement of merit and salvation for all.
Shabbat Shalom…
*
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com