John Louk

There is a tale found in the Talmud, the compendium of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend, about Honi the Wise One. When he saw something that puzzled him he would ask questions so he could unravel the mystery. “ One day, Honi the Wise One was walking on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi asked the man, ‘How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?’ The man replied, ‘Seventy years.’ Honi then asked the man, ‘And do you think you will live another seventy years and eat the fruit of this tree?’ The man answered, ‘Perhaps not. However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.’” We reap the fruit of trees planted before we were even born. Our ancestors planted and tended trees for us. Likewise, when we plant trees, we do it for those who follow us. When we p...