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Weekly thoughts
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Carob treeOne of the cryptic statements in Mishneh Avos chapter 3, is the statement by Rabbi Elazar Ben Azaryah that a person whose deeds are greater than his wisdom is likened to a tree whose roots are many but whose branches are few,so that even if all the powerful winds may come , they will not move the tree from its' place. This is in distinction from the person whose wisdom is greater than his deeds . For he is likened to the tree whose branches are many and whose roots are few . In that case the wind comes and overturns the tree !Now this comparison of what is the main positive aspect of the person,deeds or wisdom, has already been addressed previously by Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa who said simply that a person whose deeds were greater than his wisdom, his wisdom lasts but not if the wisdom is greater than one's deeds. In that case the wisdom is forgotten.Since Rabbi Elazar is coming to add to this concept of greater deeds than wisdom, we ask what is the addition? It's a nice example but what is Rabbi Elazar saying that Rabbi Chanina didn't already say?The answer is that these are two separate levels of deeds . In Rabbi Chanina's case his deeds were widely known . He was not in the great Academy that often as he lived privately as a hidden Tzaddik. However, due to the reputation of his deeds , people would request that he pray for them . Invariably his prayers were answered and he demonstrated the power of one whose deeds are righteous before G-D and man.No poisonous snake could injure him, no temptation could sway him. He was likened to G-D's servant who attends his Master constantly unlike the scholar who is like an official who can only come before the King when invited. Because of the superiority of his deeds Rabbi Chanina is remembered by all . We remain in awe over his mastery of nature and his words though few are all remembered.Rabbi Elazar on the other hand was a brilliant young man, who at the amazingly tender age of 18 took over the reins of leading the Academy in Yavneh! If ever there was a person to be noted for his brilliance it was Rabbi Elazar!Yet Rabbi Elazar stressed that his main effort were his deeds! What were they?Rabbi Elazar opened the doors of the Academy to all who wished to study Torah. This was in distinction from Rabban Gamliel who maintained that the Academy was only for the pious and the studious.In doing so, Rabbi Elazar gave himself what appeared as unnecessary work. For every student that couldn't fit in became the charge of Rabbi Elazar!Instead of complaining Rabbi Elazar taught that although the quality of learning and even the quantity suffered, the act of teaching those on a lesser level were deeds that were greater than learning torah on the highest level possible. This was because the responsibility to deal with students required one to 1) be clear and 2)to get to the depth of the concept in order to make it clear to the students.This is why he used the metaphor of a tree that doesn't move in a wind. when you merely engage in intellectual pursuits ,much of the time the ideas sparkle but they lack basis . In the future they will be refuted .however the lessons given to students who struggle , are clear and rooted . For in the process of caring for G-D's children, one is rewarded with ideas that are rooted and reach the depths of the concept. Hence the deed of teaching children has as its' reward a deeper awareness of the Torah one learns. Furthermore the ideas are true and will stand the test of time!The carob tree was the tree that Rabbi Elazar had in mind. For the carob ,despite growing up to 70 feet tall has extensive roots that reach down to the water source. Its' fruits lastand can sustain a person by itself with no other food . This was the food of Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa . This was also the miraculous food tree of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Elazar in the cave that still lives almost 2000 years later!The symbol of the carob tree with its deep roots should remind us of the wonderful rewards for those who care for others even while their own spiritual growth is neglected.Better to be counted among the teachers than among the aloof!
Posted by Rabbi Chaim Moshe at 2:26 PM
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