When trees fall

This week, Northwest Indiana experienced a storm unlike anything many of us have seen in years. Munster was among the hardest-hit areas, with hundreds of trees coming down across the community. Some were enormous trees that had stood for decades. Their fall damaged homes, fences, cars and property, blocked roads, and left almost everyone without power.

When something like this happens, we are reminded how much we depend on one another. A storm can knock out the electricity in a matter of minutes, but it can also bring out something good: people checking on their neighbors, offering help, and making sure others are okay.

That brings us to this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Shoftim.

Among the laws of war, the Torah tells us: “When you lay siege to a city… do not destroy its trees… for you may eat from them.” Even in the middle of a conflict, the Torah tells us to recognize the value of a tree and preserve it.

The Zohar finds another message in these words. It teaches that every word of Torah contains guidance and good advice for life. In every word, the Zohar says, there are insights that can illuminate a person’s path. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, explains that the Hebrew word for tree, “etz,” is connected to “etzah,” meaning advice. The tree can represent the Torah scholar who offers guidance to someone seeking to return to the right path.

The Zohar takes this idea even further. It describes a situation in which a community is under siege because of its spiritual failures. The ‘destroyer’ has been given permission to cause harm, yet the Torah commands us to not destroy trees. This refers to the Torah scholar, described as a tree of life. His Torah provides spiritual nourishment, and his guidance can inspire the entire community to change.

There’s an important message here about difficult times. The Zohar is describing a situation that begins with a decline and ends with a complete reversal. The people listen and ultimately overcome what was threatening them.

This is one of Judaism’s fundamental ideas about life: a fall can become the beginning of a rise.

We all face challenges, both from circumstances beyond our control and from struggles within ourselves. The Torah teaches that even the existence of temptation has a purpose. It gives us the ability to choose. When we choose what is right, we can transform a difficult situation into an opportunity for growth.

That is also the deeper connection between the two interpretations of the verse. The simple meaning describes the ideal situation: we are doing what is right and confronting the challenges before us. The Zohar describes what happens when we have fallen and need to find our way back. Both are part of Jewish life.

The Torah tells us to protect the tree because we eat from it. The Zohar reminds us that the tree also represents the people who provide guidance and help others find their way.

This week’s storm gives us a very tangible reminder of that lesson. We could not control the wind or prevent the trees from falling. But we can choose what happens next.

We can check on someone who is without power. We can help clear a neighbor’s property. We can reach out to someone who may be isolated. And we can use a difficult experience to strengthen the connections within our community.

There are plenty of fallen trees in our community this week. Let’s make sure that we are also helping one another stand strong.