The oldest of our
ancient trees have lived through wars, religious upheavals, conquests
and defeats; the youngest have seen the return of the Jews to their
ancient homeland.
Legend
holds that after the Temple was destroyed, all the trees in the Land of
Israel shed their leaves in mourning. All the trees, that is, except
for the olive.
“Why are you not sad?” the other trees
asked the olive. “You, who provided oil for the sacred menorah, why are
you not full of sorrow, as we are?” The olive tree replied: “Can you not
see the torment in my heart?” And, indeed, olive trees are twisted and
gnarled, as if their hearts are in travail.
Unless
their leaves are swaying in the breeze — or falling in a forest — trees
rarely make a sound. Yet what if they could talk? As the oldest forms
of life in the universe, they could tell riveting stories about long-ago
events and the people who made them happen!
The oldest of Israel’s ancient trees have
lived through wars, religious upheavals, conquests and defeats; the
youngest have seen the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland.
Here are but a few, together with their fascinating tales!...Read tales here...
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