A fish tale

A demographic study of the cities (in this week's torah portion) of refuge described in this week's Torah portion reveals a surprising element in their population. One would assume that the cities would be comprised solely of the Levites who lived there permanently and of any individuals who killed accidentally who were seeking protection from their pursuers. However, there is another group: Rabbis. The Talmud (Tractate Makkot) explains that any individual who fled to the city of refuge must take his rabbi with him (not his lawyer, accountant, or doctor). By analyzing this law, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the primacy of Torah in one's life.

This obligation emerges from the verse, "He [the accidental killer] must flee to one of the cities and live" (Deuteronomy 19:4). Physical sustenance alone does not enable the killer to "live". Only when it is coupled with spiritual sustenance (i.e. his rabbi) can he truly live. An uncharacteristic comment of Rambam (Maimonides), one of the leading Torah scholars of the Middle Ages, supports this notion. Although Rambam's style in his legal magnum opus is to elucidate Jewish law, he adds a revealing comment when articulating the requirement to bring one's rabbi to the city of refuge. He writes that wise individuals devoid of Torah knowledge and studying are considered devoid of life. The Torah infuses life.

A story told about Rabbi Akiva crystallizes the indispensability of Torah. Rabbi Akiva lived during the period of Roman persecutors who forbade Torah study. Despite the ban, Rabbi Akiva continued his studies and was captured and sentenced to death by the Romans. When asked by his students why he took such a risk, he shared with them the story of the fox and the fish. A clever fox offered a fish a wonderful proposal: "Come onto land and you will be saved from the fisherman's net!". The insightful fish responded, "While in the water, there is a possibility that I may live by evading the fisherman's net. However, on land I am sure to die." Without the potent waters of the Torah, we too cannot survive.

Upon leaving this world, one of the questions that Hashem will ask every human being is whether we set aside time to study Torah every day (Talmud Tractates Sanhedrin 7a and Shabbat 31a). The Torah is not merely a legal guide to life. Through learning the Torah, we deepen our appreciation of the mitzvot and reinvigorate our relationship with Hashem. As we approach Rosh Hashanah, let us make a commitment to immerse ourselves in the sea of Torah and may we be blessed by its living waters each and every day.

Perhaps I am trying to bait you, dear blog reader, but here is a mezuzah from Daniel perfect for the person who loves to fish. In the Jewish tradition, fish are symbolic of fertility and abundance. They thus appear on a wide variety of Judaica objects and manuscripts. The prevalence of the fish symbol on illustrated ketubbot (wedding manuscripts) and on amulets for barren women is quite obvious. We have seen other fish on JJ... like this one and and this one. I am sure there are other fish in the sea; I will be sure to bring them to you.

Its not easy being green...

The Talmud itself says:
Whoever breaks vessels, or tears garments, or destroys a building, or clogs a well, or does away with food in a destructive manner violates the negative mitzvah of bal tashchit. (Kiddushin 32a).

Hundreds of years later, Maimonides applied the law to both trees and other objects, though he concedes that trees may be cut down as part of a thoughtful agricultural decision:

It is forbidden to cut down fruit-bearing trees outside a besieged city, nor may a water channel be deflected from them so that they wither. Whoever cuts down a fruit-bearing tree is flogged. This penalty is imposed not only for cutting it down during a siege; whenever a fruit-yielding tree is cut down with destructive intent, flogging is incurred. It may be cut down, however, if it causes damage to other trees or to a field belonging to another man or if its value for other purposes is greater. The law forbids only wanton destruction.... Not only one who cuts down trees, but also one who smashes household goods, tears clothes, demolishes a building, stops up a spring, or destroys articles of food with destructive intent transgresses the command "you must not destroy." (Mishna Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars 6:8,10)

Because the principle of bal taschit demands that we refrain from engaging in destructive or wasteful actions, many contemporary Jews have understood it to be part of an emerging Jewish environmental consciousness. For example, some contemporary writers have suggested that a commitment to bal taschit in its original context might lead Jews to greater activism to prevent the wasteful exploitation or destruction of wilderness areas. On a more everyday level, bal taschit might serve as a religious language for greater conservation and recycling efforts on the part of Jewish homes and institutions.
Read more of this drash here.

I have featured Shagra Landesman in the past. Here we see her olive branch mezuzah... this, like many of her other pieces is obviously inspired by nature.

Shof'tim:Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9

My family and I are are on our way back home. We spent a lovely several days with my family in NY... despite a nasty cold that bounced its way among us. I am currently writing you from Baltimore, MD. Last night we had a lovely evening with my husband's old roommate and his wife. I love having these attachments... continuing relationships like

THE HUMAN TREE
The tree's primary components are: the roots, which anchor it to the ground and supply it with water and other nutrients; the trunk, branches and leaves which comprise its body; and the fruit which contain the seeds by which the tree reproduces itself.

The spiritual life of man also includes roots, a body, and fruit. The roots represent faith, our source of nurture and perseverance. The trunk, branches and leaves are the body of our spiritual lives -- our intellectual, emotional and practical achievements. The fruit is our power of spiritual procreation -- the power to influence others, to plant a seed in a fellow human being and see it sprout, grow and bear fruit. Read more here.

Karin Foreman created this wonderful Tree of Life, Etz chaim. Apparently not an under achiever, Karin holds degrees in Business, Graphic Design, and Fine Arts. Karin has received awards for Design, Graphics, Printmaking, Environmental Science