THE LEMON TREE – AN ODE TO ABA ז"ל

THE LEMON TREE – AN ODE TO ABA ז"ל
By Sara Layah Shomron




I have decided to plant a tree, specifically a lemon tree, in Eretz Yisrael (Israel) in memory and in honor of my Aba (father). This lemon tree will be planted here in the yard of our new home in Nitzan.

Why a tree?

Man is compared to a tree in several places in our Holy Scriptures:

"A person is like the tree of the field…" (Deut. 20: 19).
"For as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people" (Isaiah 65: 22).
"He will be like a tree planted near water…" (Jermiah 17: 8).

How is man like a tree?

In Ethics of Our Fathers (3: 22) they give one answer to that interesting question by saying that "A person whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds is likened to a tree whose branches are numerous, but whose roots are few. The wind comes and uproots it and turns it upside down. "But a person whose good deeds exceed his wisdom is likened to a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous. Even if all the winds of the world were to come and blow against it, they could not budge it from its place."

Aba was a successful and respected physician. He was connected to the Waukesha Temple Emanu-El community and was proud of his heritage. Through his prose we can see that he was an introspective and philosophical man. However, his unfamiliarity with Torah sources deprived him of his natural roots from which to seek comfort, guidance and spiritual nourishment especially in dealing with his mortality. It is the trees roots that keep it from toppling in storms…

Why a lemon tree?

The lemon tree has been around for thousands of years, grown for its beauty and sweet fragrance. Also, "lemons symbolize maturity…in Judaism lemons are a symbol of the heart. During the Middle Ages the lemon was the symbol of life and protection against evil forces."
http://www.rosegathering.com/fragrances.html

In addition, a strong theme throughout Aba's prose is that of his love for his wife, my Ima (mother). A lemon tree can be joined with intimacy as shown in the beautifully rendered mid 1540's Italian painting "A Man and his Wife" which includes a lemon tree:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/server.php?show=conObject.2439

Another important theme running through my Aba's prose was the importance of one's perception and attitude as it affects one's outlook and judgment. If life throws you lemons, you can make a sour face or lemonade or lemon pie or lemon sherbert… Oh! How Aba enjoyed devouring lemon crème-filled cookies as he drove to and from the office.

Lastly, like a tree, my Aba helped provide the roots and the future branches to my life today. Though he wasn't initially pleased that I live in Israel, nor was he keen on the religious path I chose, he was instrumental in helping me reclaim my proud Jewish heritage. He encouraged me to contact an Israeli Shaliach (person promoting Israel in general and programs in particular) prior to my attending Arizona State University and paraphrase John F. Kennedy to the shaliach by asking him: what can you do (study) for Israel – not what can Israel do for you?

May this lemon tree prosper and grow big and strong, a pleasure to both sight and smell, refreshing us with its shade and with the lemonade we shall make from its lemons.