Weekly Chasidic Story #1102 (s5779-20 /15 Shvat 5779)

The Emperor, the Elder and the Fig Tree

"Just as when you entered the land and found plants that others had planted, so too shall you plant for your descendants." Commentary on Levit. 19:23

Connection: Seasonal -- TU B'SHVAT - the Jewish New Year's Day for Fruit Trees

Story in PDF format for more convenient printing.

The Emperor, the Elder and the Fig Tree

[Something different…from a 1600 plus years old Midrash. -- YT]

The Holy One, blessed be He said to Yisrael that even though you will find the land full with all that is good, you should not say "We will sit and NOT plant." Rather you must be careful to plant as it says, "When you shall come to the land and you shall plant any food tree." (Levit. 19:23) Just as when you entered the land and found plants that others had planted, so too shall you plant for your descendants.

There is a story about Adriyonus Caesar* who was going to war and marching with his soldiers to fight against a rebel area. He found an old man who was planting fig trees along the way. Adriyonus asked him, "You are an elderly man, so why are you standing and working and tiring yourself for others?"

He answered, "My master the king, I am planting now and if I merit I will eat from the fruits of my planting. But if not, then my children will eat."

Adriyonus was at war for 3 years and he then found the same old man in the same place. What did the old man do? He took a basket and filled it with the beautiful first-to-ripen figs and gave it to Adriyonus, saying, "My master the king, please receive this from your servant. I am the old man whom you found on your way three years ago and you said to me, 'You are an old man, so why bother yourself and exhaust yourself working for others?' However, the Omnipresent One has permitted me to eat from the fruit of my plantings. These that are in the basket are a present from me."

Right away Adriyonus told his servants to take the basket from him, remove the figs and to refill it with gold coins. And so they did.

Thus we see that one should never say that he is too old, how much longer will he live, and why should he get up and get tired for others since he is soon to die. King Solomon said, "He made everything beautiful in its time. He also put the world into their heart." (Eccl. 3:11). The word for "the world," ha'olam, is written without [the usual] Vav, spelling he'elam," meaning "the concealment." Why? For if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not hidden from man's heart the thought of his imminent death, he would never build nor plant, for he would say that tomorrow he would die, so why should he get up and get tired for others. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, hid the death day from the heart of man so that he would build and plant. If he merits he will gain the benefits, and if not, others will get the benefits.

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Source: From Etz Hayyim Hee by Rachmiel Hayyim Drizin - Supplement, page 3-4, as adapted from Midrash Tanhuma (Kedoshim ch. 8).

* Editor's note: Hadrian (also spelled 'Adrian' - full title: Traianus Hadrianus Augustus) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. His birth-name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus.

Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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