8 min listen
The Circle Maker - Rabbi Susan Nanus
FromWilshire POV
ratings:
Length:
8 minutes
Released:
Jun 2, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
One of the most profound stories in the Talmud is about a man called Honi the Circle Maker. One day, Honi is walking down the street when he meets an old man who is planting a carob tree. Honi asks the man how long the tree will take to bear fruit. “Seventy years,” answers the old fellow. Mocking him, Honi asks why he would plant a tree that he might never eat from. “I was born into a world with carob trees,” the man replies,” and just as my ancestors planted trees for me, so too will I plant them for my children and their children after them.”Soon after, Honi eats a meal and falls asleep for decades. Upon awaking, Honi sees a different man gathering fruit from a fully-grown carob tree. “Did you plant that tree, he asks. “No,” answers the man, “it was my grandfather.” At that moment, Honi realizes he’d been asleep for 70 years.Each week, a member of the clergy offers their personal perspective on a topic of their choice, such as the week's Torah portion, a Jewish holiday, ritual, custom, or history.
Released:
Jun 2, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (67)
Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro: Preparing Our Souls for Passover by Wilshire POV