He who spares a tree is apt to spare a man. (Blau, the Wonder of Life, 1925, p.98) If a man kills a tree before its time, it is as though he has murdered a soul. (Nahman of Bratzlav)
A Rabbi was once passing
through a field where he saw a very old man planting an oak-tree. 'Why are you planting that tree?' said he. 'You surely do not expect to live long enough to see the acorn growing up into an oak-tree?'
'Ah,' replied
the old man, 'my ancestors planed trees not for themselves, but for us, in order that we might enjoy their shade and fruit. I am doing likewise for those who will come after me.' (Ta'anit)
Rabbi Jacob says, "If
someone is studying as he walks along the road and interrupts his study and exclaims: 'How lovely is that tree! How lovely is this field!' Scripture considers that he had harmed his own soul." (Pirke Avot 3:9)
Look at My creations! See how beautiful and perfect they are! For your sake I created them all. Do not desolate and corrupt My world, for if you corrupt it there is no one to set it right after you. (Ecclesiastes Rabbah
7:1)
When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to seize it, do not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them, for from it you shall eat, and you shall not cut it down; is the tree of the
field a man that it should enter the siege before you? (Deut. 20:19)
It is not only forbidden to destroy fruit-bearing trees but whoever breaks vessels, tears clothes, demolishes a building, stops up a fountain or
wastes food in a destructive way, offend the law of 'you shall not destroy'. (Maimonides)
They are the symbol of life and sustenance. The Garden of Eden is noted for its two trees in the centre, the Tree of Life and
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Significant biblical events are marked by the trees which stood by as a witness. God appeared to Abraham at the terebinths of Mamre (Gen 18:1). The greatest biblical love poem,
the Song of Songs, is filled with images of trees. So are the psalms. There are trees clapping hands, trees providing food and shelter for the animals. There are willows, palms, myrtle, and etrong, whose branches and
fruits are required to celebrate Sukkot. (Ellen Bernstein, Land, Community and Sprawl, 2001)
If you're planting a tree and you hear the Messiah has come, first finish planting and then run to the city gates to tell
him shalom. (Yochanan ben Zakkai).
