We have endured seven long frustrating and challenging weeks. But in contrast with the counting of the days of Sefira, which inevitably end upon the fiftieth day, there is no end in sight for us yet.

Just yesterday for the first time I felt disoriented and restless. I could not pinpoint what was disturbing me. Thank G-d, though, I am fortunate to continue to give Zoom shiurim and chizuk daily, viewing and connecting with so many of you. So, what was it that stressed me?

After a bit of introspection, I realized that although we are dealing with major disruptions of our lives, deep in our subconsciousness there is a sense that sooner or later this will resolve. When the notion that maybe this will continue indefinitely, for who knows how long, crept into my mind, that is when the little demons of fear, despondence and defeat begin to sow their poison.

So, what is the antidote for this bacteria called doubt and despair?

The Torah introduces the command of Orlah, which prohibits one from partaking of fruits that grow on newly planted trees for the first three years from its planting.

The Midrash states that the very planting of trees is a fulfillment of the command to emulate the attributes of G-d and cleave to Him. Just as G-d planted trees, as it states: Hashem G-d planted a garden in Eden, so too are we instructed: When you shall come to the land and you shall plant any food tree...

What divine characteristic is there in the planting of trees that imitates the Almighty?

The Midrash Tanchuma records a fascinating tale:

There is a story about the emperor Hadrian, that he was going to war and traveling with his troops to fight with a certain country for having rebelled against him. Now he found a certain old man who was planting fig saplings. Hadrian said to him: “You are an old man. Why are you persisting in taking the trouble to toil for others?” He said to Hadrian: “My Lord Emperor, here I am planting. If I am worthy, I shall eat of the fruit of my saplings; but if not, my children will eat.” 

The emperor spent three years at war, and after three years he returned.

What did that old man do? He took a fruit basket, filled it with the first fruits of beautiful figs, and drew near to Hadrian. He said to him: “My Lord Emperor: Take these figs, for I am the same old man whom you found when you were on your way to the war, when you said: ‘You are an old man. Why are you taking the trouble to toil for others?’ See, the Holy One has already found me worthy to eat some fruit from my saplings. Now this fruit in my basket is from those saplings.”

Hadrian said to his servants: “Take it from him and fill it with gold coins.” And so they did.

The old man took the fruit basket full of gold coins and began to go about his house boasting to his wife and children. So, he told them the story.

Now a woman neighbor of his was there. She heard what the old man had said. She said to her husband: “When all the children of Adam go through life, the Holy One gives to them and prepares bounty for them. But you dwell in your dark house in dark misfortune. See, our [neighbor] honored the emperor with a fruit basket of figs; and he filled it with gold coins for him. Now you get up, take a large basket, and fill it with varieties of choice fruit, with apples, figs, and the other varieties of beautiful fruit, since he loves them a lot. Go and honor him with them. Perhaps he will fill it with gold for you, as he did for our old neighbor.”

He went and heeded his wife. So, he took a large basket, filled it with apples and figs, and loaded it on his shoulder. Taking a shortcut, he quickly arrived at the emperor and said to him: “My Lord Emperor, I heard that you love fruit, I have come to honor you with figs and apples.”

The Emperor said to his officers: “Take the basket and hit him on his face.” And so, they did. They hit him on his face, until his face swelled up; smashed his eyes; and made an example of him. So, he went home as one of whom an example had been made and crying. Now she thought that he was coming with a basket full of gold coins. So, when she saw him with his face swollen and with his body shattered and beaten, she said to him: “What is the matter with you?” He said to her: “When I heeded you and went to honor him with this gift, they hit me on my face. If I had listened to you and put varieties of hard fruit in the basket, they would already have pelted my face and my whole body with them...”

Therefore, one should not cease from planting... one should continue to plant even though he is old. The Holy One said to Israel: “Learn from me...” And the Lord G-d planted a garden in Eden...

Many see as the lesson in this tale of the old man, his mimicking the divine attribute of G-d who does solely for others, absent of any personal need, as indicated in the old man’s referring to his efforts benefiting his children, even in the event he expires before the fruits are reaped.

This would account for the Hadrian’s vastly different reaction toward the neighbor, who exhibited his industry of effort only for the sake of selfish recompense, in stark contrast to the noble old man.

But truth be told the old man only mentions that possibility as the default. His initial hope is that he may be worthy to eat of his fruits.

The Tolna Rebbe takes note of an apparent inconsequential detail reported in the account of the neighbor who attempted to duplicate his reward, telling us that he took a shortcut in reaching Hadrian. Why is that significant?

Perhaps the moral of the story is that in life it is never about the objective alone, but more so about living in the moment and seeing it as a morsel of eternity.

The old man seeks to teach the power crazed Hadrian, who tramples on others in his pursuit of personal conquest, that it makes no difference in life what you accomplish. It is in the infusing of each moment of life with meaning and connection, relishing the opportunity we have every second of our life to bond with the source of all life, by doing everything with a heightened sense of meaning in allegiance to a benevolent Creator. Hadrian when presented with a basket full of fruit, ponders momentarily his own angst-ridden and tortuous life as contrasted with the calm and worry free old man, to whom it really makes no difference whether his efforts will benefit himself or others - for all that truly that matters is experiencing the joy and the gift of life itself that is present in any circumstance - is touched by that truth and rewards the old man for the valuable lesson. However, when Hadrian is approached by the opportunistic neighbor - who wallows in self-pity over his misfortune and is blind to the value of life - rushing to grab for the prize, he disgustedly throws it all back in his face.

It is within the context of the law of Orlah that limits our deriving benefit from the fruits for three years, that accentuates the value of each increment of time even as the goal is so far away.

There is no past nor future for a Jew. Every moment that presents itself to us is a point on the graph of eternity. It is a treasure to be cherished, savored and utilized properly, for it is in those moments that our eternity is constructed. (Inspired by a talk of the Tolna Rebbe)

A great Tzaddik was wont to express each morning: Shalom Aleichem new day! What a momentous day! Thousands of years have waited for you to arrive. You are part of the program that the Holy One blessed be He, has charted yet from creation. Much have I waited longingly for you, and now that you have arrived, the day is short and the work abundant. I can only be with you for twenty-four hours, after which I will never see you again. Therefore, let us get started immediately. I promise you, I will invigorate each hour, each second!  

G-d created an eternal garden of opportunity. It awaits our reaping its magnificent fruit.

The old man was an exceptional gardener who appreciated each precious act of ‘tending’ the garden.

It is not the future we need to hang on to, nor the past to wallow in, rather the present which is laden with exquisite fruit for those that appreciate its worth!

The unique challenges we face are waiting for us to define them.

Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai taught: If you have a seedling in your hand and they tell you Moshiach has arrived, first tend to the planting then afterward go out to greet him. (אדר"נ לא)

Moshiach can wait - eternity cannot! Grab it while you can!

באהבה,

צבי יהודה טייכמאן