BUT WHY? ISN'T THE NEED TO PROTECT LIFE PARAMOUNT? WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT SOME TREE?
THE TORAH EXPLAINS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DESTROY THE TREE "FOR FROM IT YOU SHALL EAT". THIS MEANS THAT THE PURPOSE OF WAR IS NOT TO KILL THE ENEMY. RATHER IT'S TO ALLOW YOUR PEOPLE TOP LIVE AND SURVIVE IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.
IN THAT CASE DESTROYING THE FRUIT TREE MEANS SACRIFICING THE FUTURE FOR A SMALL PRESENT GAIN.THIS IS UNWISE AS YOU MUST ALWAYS THINK BEYOND THE BATTLE.
ANOTHER APPROACH IS THAT DURING WAR THE VALUES OF PEOPLE CHANGE. MEN OF COMPASSION BECOME HARDENED KILLERS. MEN OF PRINCIPLES LOSE THESE TO THE NEED AND DESIRE TO SURVIVE. BY REMINDING THE WARRIOR TO HAVE COMPASSION ON ANY LIVING THING TEACHES HIM THAT EVEN DURING WAR THERE IS A NEED TO RETAIN ONE'S HUMANITY EVEN IF IT IS FOR A SELFISH PURPOSE.
A THIRD WAY OF LOOKING AT IT IS; MAN IS LIKENED TO THE TREE . JUST AS THE TREE
PROVIDES FRUIT TO OTHERS SO TOO A MAN DOES GOOD DEEDS THAT BENEFIT ALL.ONLY WHEN WE ARE LIKE THE FRUIT TREE ARE WE WORTHY OF G-D'S SPECIAL PROVIDENCE. HENCE WE KEEP THE TREE TO REMEMBER THAT WE MUST EMULATE IT AND CONTINUE TO OBEY THE MITZVOS NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE AND UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
RAABI MATTISYAHU SOLOMON TOLD OF A STUDENT WHO CAME TO GATESHEAD FROM POLAND AFTER THE WAR WHO KNEW HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF TALMUD BY HEART EVEN THOUGH HE HAD SPENT HIS LAST FEW YEARS IN THE WARSAW GHETTO AND THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. HIS UNCLE GAVE A DAF HAYOMY CLASS IN THE GHETTO WHICH HE CONSTANTLY ATTENDED. ALL THE GEMORAH WAS LEARNED BY HEART AS HE REVIEWED HIS LESSONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NEVER FORGETTING THAT DESPITE BEING HUNTED HE WAS STILL A MEMBER OF G-D'S CHOSEN PEOPLE AND CONSECRATED EVERY MOMENT TO MAKE HIS JEWISH LIFE MEANINGFUL.
OF COURSE THERE ARE TRAGIC DEATHS IN WARTIME AS WELL AS IN PEACETIME.
HOWEVER, WHERVER WE GO WE MUST REALIZE THAT OUR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO BE LIKE THAT TREE.
PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE ALL COMBATANTS WILL BECOME FRUIT TREES AND LAY DOWN THEIR WEPONS FOREVER.
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