(א) רְאֵה אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי מִי יוּכַל לְתַקֵּן אֵת אֲשֶׁר עִוְּתוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, נְטָלוֹ וְהֶחֱזִירוֹ עַל כָּל אִילָנֵי גַּן עֵדֶן, וְאָמַר לוֹ, רְאֵה מַעֲשַׂי כַּמָּה נָאִים וּמְשֻׁבָּחִין הֵן, וְכָל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתִי בִּשְׁבִילְךָ בָּרָאתִי, תֵּן דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁלֹא תְקַלְקֵל וְתַחֲרִיב אֶת עוֹלָמִי, שֶׁאִם קִלְקַלְתָּ אֵין מִי שֶׁיְתַקֵּן אַחֲרֶיךָ.
(1) “See the work of God, for who can mend what They have warped?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13) “See the work of God, for who can mend what He has warped?” When the Holy One blessed be God created Adam the first human, They took him and showed him all the trees in the Garden of Eden, and They said to him: ‘See My creations, how beautiful and exemplary they are. Everything I created, I created for you. Make certain that you do not ruin and destroy My world, as if you destroy it, there will be no one to mend it after you.
Trees are the tools used to teach the first human beings to feel gratitude for the world around them. There are many situations for which we can be grateful. Sometimes we face one that seems hard or even impossible to navigate. Can you remember an experience that was difficult but for which you feel thankful? Thinking about these questions helps you nurture the gratitude in your life and plant your own gratitude tree!
עַלִים - Leaves
How can we show or express our gratitude?
גֶזָע - Trunk
What things in our lives do we feel grateful for?
שׁוֹרָשִׁים - Roots
What values or feelings help us feel gratitude?
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