The Circle Maker - Rabbi Susan Nanus episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 2, 2023 · 8 MIN

The Circle Maker - Rabbi Susan Nanus

from Wilshire POV · host Wilshire Boulevard Temple

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. Facebook: Wilshire Boulevard TempleWebsite: wbtla.orgYoutube: Wilshire Boulevard TempleInstagram: wilshireboulevardtemple

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 2, 2023

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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...

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The Circle Maker - Rabbi Susan Nanus

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