In our first Dvar Torah on the letter Tzadi we focused our discussion on the relationship
between a person who is a Tzadik (a just and righteous person), and trees, which a Tzadik
is compared to. This week we want to expand our discussion to explore a specific
word, Aitzah (Ayin-Tzadi-Heh) which means, advice, that is connected to the
Hebrew word for tree, Aitz (Ayin-Tzadi). What is the connection between advice
and trees? Do trees give advice?

The Aitz (Ayin-Tzadi) is a major theme for the month of Shevat around the celebration
of Tu B'Shevat as well as being the word that is derived from combining last month's
letter (Ayin) with this month's letter (Tzadik). As we mentioned last time, the tree is also connected with the Torah which we read about receiving in last week's Torah portion of Yitro.
Parshat Yitro also gives us an insight into the word we want to investigate this time.

Before receiving the Torah we read that Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law,
comes for a visit. While he is visiting he witnesses the way that Moshe is
managing the people with regard to teaching and settling disputes. He is
incredulous that Moshe is trying to do everything himself and that the people
are hot, tired, and frustrated waiting for him. Yitro offers Moshe advice, which
Moshe listens to and takes.

Yitro's Aitza: Too Much Chesed (Giving) is Destructive

Yitro tells Moshe that he cannot give all of his energy to the people. Chesed, giving, is
good. Too much Chesed is self-destructive as well as destructive for the people The thing
that you do is not good. You will surely become worn out -- you as well as this people that is with you -- for this matter is too hard for you, you will not be able to do it alone. Now heed my
voice, (E'atz'cha) I shall advise you. Yitro tells Moshe that he should
continue to caution them regarding the decrees and the teachings, and you shall
make known to them the path in which they should go and the deeds that they
should do, but that others should be selected to judge minor matters. Yitro
advises that "in this way you will be able to endure, and this entire people, as
well, shall arrive at its destination in peace." (Shemot18:.17-23).

The Balance of Chesed (Giving) and Gevurah (Restraint)

Yitro is advising Moshe to step back from some of the responsibiilities that he has taken
upon himself -- to stop giving everything and preserve his ability to continue giving. In
Kabbalistic terms Yitro is telling Moshe to balance his Chesed, giving, with
Gevurah, restraint, in order to fully serve the people and G-d. The paradox is
that it is the Gevurah that will actually enable him to continue giving.

We can recognize that this is good advice (Aitza). Is there a connection to be seen in
this type of advice and the shared root of advice and tree? Perhaps the
following Midrash illustrates the connection.

The Trees Advise G-d

There is a Midrash about the creation of fruit trees. Initially, the entire tree tasted
like the fruit that it bore. The trees ÒrebelledÓ against G-d and refused to
have taste except in the fruit. The Midrash is relaying the wisdom of the trees
in that they recognized that people and trees need each other, and that if the
tree had the same taste as the fruit it would be devoured -- if they gave
themselves completely -- they as well as people would ultimately perish. Since
G-dÕs desire is that people flourish, the trees were allowed to change to having
only the fruit taste sweet. The fact that the bark, branches, and leaves would
have no taste would help preserve both the trees and humanity. The giving had to
have limits. The fruit trees wanted a balance of Chesed and Gevurah to preserve
themselves and humanity and to do G-dÕs will. We see, then, that Yitro was
advising Moshe to be like the fruit trees -- give the fruit that was unique to
him, but preserve his branches and trunk so that he could continue to Ògive
fruitÓ and endure [only in recent years has mankind begun to appreciate the role
trees play in the survival of the ecosystem--and the Midrash teaches us that
although the trees "rebelled" man has found uses for the tree itself that,
unchecked, would lead to the the destruction of the world].

The Giving Tree
The contemporary story that shows what happens when there are no limits to
Chesed is also portrayed by a tree in Shel SilversteinÕs classic "The Giving
Tree." The tree keeps giving and giving until it is gone, while the greed of
the boy who keeps on taking never ends. We smile at the tree's generous giving
and wince at the boy's selfish taking, but in the end we cry that the boy has
destroyed the thing that he loves. The "Giving Tree" is all Chesed. Neither the
Tree nor the boy have any Gevurah, any limits -- in the giving or in the taking.
The Tzadik Keeps Giving

The Tzadik's hallmark is their capacity to give and
give selflessly. Yet, the Tzadik, who is compared to a fruit tree that keeps
flowering - "Tzadik ka'Tamar Yif-rach" -- is also one who best heeds the Aitza
(advice) of the Aitz (tree) and finds that harmonious balance of Chesed and
Gevurah so that she or he can have a life of giving without depleting or
destroying the source of the giving. Tzadikim, in fact, keep flowering and
leave fruit to be enjoyed even after they are gone from this world. They are
truly a gift that keeps on giving.

The Torah is a Tree of Life

The way of the Aitz (tree), the Aitza (advice) of Yitro, and the path of the Tzadik are all
manifestations of the same paradigm of balancing Chesed and Gevurah and express
a fundamental principle of the Jewish view of how to be in this world. It seems
to be human nature to be extreme, either ascetic or hedonistic, all giving or
all witholding. The way of the Aitz shows us that neither extreme -- giving
everything or witholding everything - will enable us to arrive at our destination
in peace. The Torah, the Tree of Life, is a multi-faceted tree that
guides us and advises us in maintaining a harmonious balance in all
dimensions of life. Maintaining a balance in personal relationships, business dealings,
communal leadership, eating, farming, using our time -- every aspect of life --
is addressed in the Torah and we celebrate in our Torah readings, both last week
and this week, the gift of Torah and its advice on how to walk a path of harmony
and peace. Each time the Torah is replaced in the Aron Kodesh we remind
ourselves of this guiding principle, "It is a tree of life to those who hold
fast to it and all of its paths are peace."