Pirkei Avos - Torah.org

Chapter 3, Mishna 9

Torah Versus Nature

By Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld

"Rabbi Yaakov said, one who is walking along the road and is studying [Torah], and then interrupts his studies and says, 'How beautiful is this tree! How beautiful is this plowed field!', the Scripture considers it as if he bears the guilt for his own soul."

This mishna discusses the severity of interrupting one's Torah study, even for an activity as worthy as admiring nature. The commentator Rashi adds that this is of particular concern when one is traveling and is exposed to the dangers of the wilds (as we discussed recently; see Mishna 5 (www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter3-5.html)). In such a situation Torah study insures Divine protection, and if a person does not avail himself of this protection, "he bears the guilt for his own soul."

Our mishna seems to view the natural world with some degree of ambivalence, implying that the appreciation of nature interferes with true service of G-d. I believe this is not a very accurate or complete picture of the Torah's viewpoint. A review of just a few of the other statements of the Sages regarding this will give us a fuller understanding both of this issue and of the mishna at hand.

There is an obligation to thank G-d for the beauty He has placed in the world. The Sages instituted a number of blessings to be recited upon viewing natural wonders. (See Mishna Berachos 9:2 and Talmud there.) Upon seeing such sights as majestic mountains, deserts and rivers, we recite the blessing: "Blessed are You... who makes the work of creation." (Regarding rivers, the blessing is recited only if one knows the river is following its natural course -- the way G-d created it -- and has not been altered by man. Note also that this blessing is stated in the present tense: "who *makes* the work of creation," rather than "who *has made*..." Judaism does not view creation as some kind of giant wind-up toy G-d invented once upon a time and left to operate on its own momentum. He constantly builds, creates and watches over.)

Upon seeing exceptionally beautiful trees or fields (both of which having been mentioned in our mishna), we recite the blessing "...who has such in His universe."

Upon partaking of seasonal fruits, when we first enjoy the first fruits of the new year's harvest, we thank G-d with the blessing, "who has kept us alive, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this time." We express our gratitude that G-d has preserved us to this time, and has granted us the opportunity to partake of His wonderful creations. And of course, we bless G-d -- both before and after -- for all food He has graced us with.

Finally, the Sages instituted a special blessing to be recited when one first sees fruit trees in bloom in the spring: "Blessed are You... who did not cause a lack of anything in His world, who created good creatures and good trees so that mankind can benefit from them." We note that in this blessing, as well as in the previous blessing on new fruits, we do not praise G-d for His bountiful world alone. We rather thank Him that He has benefited *us* with it. This is not so much because we see the world as something for man to exploit. It is because we see the miracle of nature as G-d's gift to man: we turn our admiration into appreciation. Delicious, ripening fruit (which as R. Avigdor Miller has pointed out, turn color only when they are ready to be picked), is not merely testimony to G-d's magnificent handiwork. It is cause for our eternal gratitude -- and is yet another means of bringing us closer to G-d.

Deuteronomy 20 discusses a number of laws relating to preparing for and fighting wars. Verses 19-20 deal with Jewish troops besieging an enemy city. The Torah warns us: "...you may not destroy its [fruit] trees by pressing ax against them, for from them you will eat... for, is a tree a *man* that it should come before you in siege?" Care for the environment and aesthetics do not normally rate very high in conditions of war. When people are being killed, we pay very little attention to the scenery. (Historically speaking, burning the landscape has been employed both as part of victorious plunder and as defensive tactic.) The Torah, however, tells us otherwise. Respect for the environment should not be neglected even during the heat of the battle.

(In addition, this warning serves to remind us not to "lose it all" in combat. Even if our tactics are sometimes violent, we must never forget we are law-abiding and G-d-fearing servants of the Almighty.)

Additionally, the Sages learn from Deut. 20:19 a more general principle not to destroy or waste food or other items of value (see Talmud Makkos 22a). For as we often find within Judaism, such activities as harming the environment, polluting, wasting energy, etc. -- as well as thanking G-d for His natural wonders -- are not merely common sense dictates; they are codified into law.

Further, when Maimonides discusses the dual obligation to both love and fear G-d (Mishne Torah, Hil' Yesodei Hatorah 2), he asks how does one reach this lofty level? How do we build a relationship with an infinite and unknowable G-d? He answers that when one contemplates G-d's great and wondrous creation and sees the immense wisdom which went into it, he or she will become both awed and inspired. He will develop an awe of and love for the Creator of such beauty and magnificence -- as well as a desire to know Him better. Maimonides then proceeds to devote a number of chapters of his usually technical work to describing his advanced (albeit Medieval) scientific knowledge of the heavens and earth.

And finally, King David, while reveling in the beauty and harmony of nature, exclaims, "How great are Your works, oh L-rd; all of them You have created with wisdom" (Psalms 104:24). And afterwards, "May the glory of G-d endure forever; may the L-rd rejoice in His works" (v. 31).

(We today, with our far superior knowledge of all areas of science, should know all the better how perfectly G-d has orchestrated the forces of nature and the ecology. How often do we observe a single, insignificant(?) creature removed from or introduced into a habitat (more often than not thanks to the tinkering of man) and seeing the entire ecosystem collapse?)

Considering all the above, we must view the beauty and harmony of the natural world with both awe and wonder, seeing them as clear indicators of both an infinite and giving Creator. And as per Maimonides, we are *obligated* to study the natural world for just that reason. If so, what in the world (bad pun there) is so bad about "how beautiful is this tree?" Does it not increase one's closeness to G-d?

Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinura (of 15th - 16th Century Italy and later Israel), in his commentary to the mishna, explains as follows: All of the above is certainly true. Nature is one of the world's most powerful tools for recognizing G-d. However, the subject in our mishna was appreciating G-d in an even greater and more inspiring manner: he was studying Torah. As our mishna put it, he interrupted his studies to admire his surroundings. And as much as the atom, the cosmos, and the human brain reveal about G-d's infinite wisdom, there is no human experience in this world which compares to opening up the Scriptures or a page of the Talmud. Nothing of all the sciences combined compares to the meaningful study of the Torah, gaining deeper insights into the wisdom of the generations and of G-d Himself. No other experience creates the same sense of exhilaration, and in terms of true inspiration, nothing else comes anywhere close.

I believe we may observe further. Tragically, we find some of the world's greatest scientists to be ardent atheists, who have an almost condescending disdain for religious doctrine and virtue. How could this be? How can the people who understand most fully just how complex and masterfully designed the world is be so godless and empty of spirit themselves?

I do not intend to begin an entire new discussion at this point, but I would like to make one brief observation. If you know G-d too well, it is a very dangerous thing. One who sees -- undeniably so -- that the world must have a Designer, will have to face that reality. He will either have to live up to his knowledge or deny that which is in front of his face. If a person is too firmly rooted in the sciences -- without the proper spiritual and religious grounding -- he may very well be unable to live with his knowledge. He is not ready to accept the ramifications of what he sees before his eyes, and his only other recourse is to deny that which he knows deep down to be the case. He will turn David's "How great are Your works, oh L-rd!" into "How great is evolution!", or even worse: "How lucky the universe was! What a fortunate series of *accidents*!" And so, such a person will adamantly and viciously deny the existence of G-d. His ears hear the echoes of G-d's voice in the creation. And he must either accept it -- or virulently shout it down.

(Many of my readers may notice the similarity to this past Sabbath's Torah reading, describing Bilam (Balaam), the wicked prophet of the nations. He too saw G-d before him, but was so unprepared for it spiritually that it corrupted and destroyed him, both body and soul..)

So to conclude, there certainly is a place in our life curriculum for the study and appreciation of nature, as well as of science. There are few things in this world which better open our eyes to the reality -- and the beauty -- of G-d, and which give us a greater appreciation of His might and majesty. Yet we must take care that it never displaces or interferes with our appreciation of Torah. Science is the handmaiden of Torah. The admiration of science on its own, without the unequivocal acceptance of the Source behind it, may very well be counterproductive and destructive. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. The Sages exhort us to admire the beauty of the world, but constantly remind us to direct that admiration towards G-d -- the G-d "who has such in His universe." For nature allows us to *see* G-d in this world. But only Torah enables us to *recognize* Him -- and to be ready for the encounter.