Rabbi Shmuel Katzman

Rabbi Katzman is Rabbi of the Jewish Community of The Hague

הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר: כֹּל שֶׁחָכְמָתוֹ מְרֻבָּה מִמַּעֲשָׂיו, לְמָה הוּא דוֹמֶה: לְאִילָן שֶׁעֲנָפָיו מְרֻבִּין וְשָׁרָשָׁיו מוּעָטִין, וְהָרֽוּחַ בָּאָה וְעוֹקַרְתּוֹ וְהוֹפַכְתּוֹ עַל פָּנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה כְּעַרְעָר בָּעֲרָבָה, וְלֹא יִרְאֶה כִּי יָבֹא טוֹב, וְשָׁכַן חֲרֵרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר, אֶֽרֶץ מְלֵחָה וְלֹא תֵשֵׁב. אֲבָל, כֹּל שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו מְרֻבִּין מֵחָכְמָתוֹ, לְמָה הוּא דוֹמֶה: לְאִילָן שֶׁעֲנָפָיו מוּעָטִין וְשָׁרָשָׁיו מְרֻבִּין, שֶׁאֲפִילוּ כָּל הָרוּחוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם בָּאוֹת וְנוֹשְׁבוֹת בּוֹ, אֵין מְזִיזִין אוֹתוֹ מִמְּקוֹמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל מַֽיִם, וְעַל יוּבַל יְשַׁלַּח שָׁרָשָׁיו, וְלֹא יִרְאֶה כִּי יָבֹא חֹם, וְהָיָה עָלֵֽהוּ רַעֲנָן, וּבִשְׁנַת בַּצֹּֽרֶת לֹא יִדְאָג, וְלֹא יָמִישׁ מֵעֲשׂוֹת פֶּֽרִי.

He had as his motto: “Someone whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, to what is he likened? He is like a tree with many branches and few roots, a wind comes and uproots him and casts him down. As it is written: ‘He shall be like a lone shrub in a desert, and shall not see when good comes; he shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land’ (Jeremiah 17:6).

But someone whose deeds exceed his wisdom, to what is he likened? He is like a tree with few branches and many roots, even when all the storms of the world blow against him, they cannot displace him. As it is written: ‘He shall be like a tree planted by water, spreading out its roots by the stream; it does not fear when heat comes, and its leaves remain green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit’ (ibid., v. 8).”

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Today is the 15th of Shevat – New Year of the Trees – so it is fitting to study a Mishnah concerning trees. The analogy in this Mishnah compares wisdom to branches of a tree while deeds are likened to roots. This requires an explanation. Usually, ideas motivate actions, not the other way around. It would be very strange to form an opinion based on something one has done. Apparently, a reverse analogy would be more correct. Wisdom should be compared to roots while deeds to branches.

A possible answer is that actions/deeds are indeed motivated from “within” but essentially much deeper than wisdom. When do we know that certain ideas we adhere to truly come from our soul? When they translate into actions! Just because someone learns something and can recount it doesn’t mean they have internalized it. It’s precisely when someone adjusts their behavior that we know they have been touched by their soul.

Wisdom has much potential, perhaps even infinite potential, but its effect on our behavior has its limits. The soul, which is a spark of Divinity, enables humans to tap into an infinite source of power within themselves. That is the “root” for all expressions of our personality, including wisdom, infusing them with boundless strength and energy. With your wisdom, you show that you have thought things through; with your actions, you activate your inner soul.

There’s a Dutch saying: “old trees should not be transplanted.” Rebecca was far from old, yet she allowed herself to be ‘transplanted.’ Without denying her roots in The Hague, she quickly established deep roots in Israel. True to the lesson from this Mishnah, Rebecca demonstrated those roots through her actions and deeds.

As a child, Rebecca didn’t like being compared to her biblical namesake, our matriarch Rivka. She likely wanted to develop her own personality first. Today, I take the liberty to make the comparison nonetheless. In Genesis, we read how Abraham’s servant was so impressed by his first meeting with Rivka; he immediately knew she was the woman he sought. What impressed him so much? It wasn’t her wisdom, loyalty, sense of humor, appearance, or tenderness. He saw her act. Few words – more deeds. That’s what the servant observed, and he was not mistaken.

Everyone who knew Rebecca in her all too short life couldn’t miss how active and full of deeds she was. Even in the last weeks, so many more people have taken note of this. These roots will continue to bear fruit even after her soul is called back to her Maker.

May you find comfort In her continued existence, .

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