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TREES
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One day when Honi, the righteous man, was out walking, he came upon
a man planting a carob tree.
"How long will it be before this tree bears fruit?" Honi
asked.
"Seventy years," the man replied.
"How do you know you'll be alive in seventy years?"
"Just as I found carob trees when I came into the world,"
answered the man, "so I am now planting carob trees for my grandchildren
to enjoy."
(Babylonian Talmud Taanit 23a)
A man was journeying in the desert. He was hungry, weary and thirsty,
and he lighted upon a tree, the fruits of which were sweet, its shade
pleasant, and a stream of water was flowing beneath it. He ate of its
fruits, drank of the water and rested under its shade.
When he was about to continue his journey he said:
"Tree, oh tree, with what shall I bless you?
Shall I say to you: May your fruits be sweet? They are sweet already.
That your shade be pleasant? It is already pleasant.
That a stream of water may flow beneath you. Lo, a stream of water flows
already beneath you.
Therefore, I say, may it be God's will, that all the shoots taken from
you be like you."
(Babylonian Talmud Taanit 5b)
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Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai used to say: If
you happen to be standing with a sapling in your hand and someone
says to you, "Behold, the Messiah has come!" —
First plant the tree and then go out to greet him.
(Avot of Rabbi Nathan)
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TREES
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