“Why were Adam and Eve first placed into a garden and not in a Shul when first created,” was the opening question at the “Secrets of Jewish Gardening Seminar” presented by Rabbi Anchelle and Bluma Perl at Chabad of Mineola.
“For Mankind’s first mission was to tend a garden: Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to look after and cultivate the beautiful garden that G-d prepared. Furthermore G-d first appeared to Moses in a thorn bush, because G-d wanted to emphasize that even vegetative life is infused with the Divine Presence.”
Linda Levy of Levittown, NY, Long Island’s Champion Tomato Grower, presented a fascinating lecture and a hands-on demonstration on the many aspects of growing vegetables.
Peppered with passion and humor, Linda went on to explain that the Sages tell us that one should not simply enjoy the beauty of nature for its own sake, but use it as an opportunity to praise God for creating such beauty in this world. Some of G-d’s most amazing miracles are happening right now in your own backyard!
Rabbi Perl concluded this great program by explaining why the Tzemach Tzedek once told someone to become an onion. This person complained that he felt that all the fuss over himself and his talents had been feeding his ego, hindering his efforts on spreading Chassidic teachings.
The Tzemach Tzedek showed no pity. “An onion should become of you,” he cried, “but teach others what you must teach them!” But why an onion?
An onion is thrown into the pot not in order to eat the onion, but only to give flavor to the chicken and the broth. Like the onion, you sometimes need to sacrifice your own personal growth so that others may grow.
May Hashem help you “cultivate” many Neshomos