FOR SHOFTIM
THE COMPLETE MAN
Immediately outside one of the windows of our house, a display of nature is unfolding before our eyes. A red wasp, which is a type of “paper wasp,” has built a nest, made up of honeycomb-like cells. The wasp builds this by biting off a piece of wood and thoroughly chewing it with its strong jaws, mixing it up with its saliva. The finished nest looks like a super thin piece of paper. When the material is ready, the mother wasp connects it via a thin, string-like hook to a surface of a tree or under an overhang, allowing plenty of protection from the elements. The wasp continues to add more cells, interconnecting them in a hexagonal pattern.
This thing appeared a few weeks ago and two wasps have been on that nest ever since. At no time have I looked there and have not seen those two wasps. Until recently, what was inside the honeycomb could not be seen. Lately, though, the tips of cotton-like cocoon are quite visible.
And those wasps are busy at work. As the temperatures reached close to 100 degrees last week, these adult wasps were seen beating their wings over the nest. They were apparently assuring that the unhatched eggs should not burn up in the heat. They were moving in all directions, and were trying continuously to cool the unborn brood.
Fascinated as I was, I looked up how these little creatures function: When they hatch, the larvae are fed by the mother after thoroughly chewing the flesh of insects that she catches. Nutrition factor plays a huge role in what kind of wasp the larvae turns out to be – either it could be another working wasp or it could become another queen. Male wasps are usually born to help females reproduce and then they die.
When the working wasps grow up, they immediately join their mother in construction work that she has started and also help her provide for the new generation of larvae. If conditions allow, the nest will become bigger and the wasps will surround it with several layers of sturdy walls.
It is utterly amazing what these creatures do. They do not go to engineering school, they do not read books or manuals, and they do not watch YouTube. They do not need to do all the above. Aside from more complex animals learning from their mothers, the rest is instinct. And these creatures manage superbly, populating the earth in ways that leave humans amazed.
Yet, humans are the creatures who have been granted intelligence. It is expected from people not merely to survive, and not merely to thrive, but to create, to innovate, to strive to change the world for the better. Humans are granted talents, abilities, and many also possess a healthy dose of curiosity. While wasps have been turning wood into nests on window frames since time immortal – and will continue this way as long as they are wasps – humans have developed the world, primarily for the better, over millennia.
While humans are expected to affect the world, a major expectation for humans is to utilize intelligence not just for the world at large, but also for self-improvement. And this is a primary message learned from a powerful statement in this week’s Torah portion, “Shoftim.” In one of its instructions regarding the protocol for war, the Torah states: When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to seize it, do not destroy its (fruit) trees (for lumber) by swinging an axe against them, for from it you will eat, and you shall not cut it down. For is the tree of the field a man (that it should be treated like an enemy)?” (D’varim (Deuteronomy) 20:19.)
The words the Torah presents imply a connection between the tree and man, since the words actually read: “mankind is the tree of the field.” The Talmud, in fact, teaches (Taanis 7,b) how mankind is, indeed, like a tree.
Comparisons and links can easily be found between the majority of the creatures and creations of the world. With a fruit tree, however, it is more obvious and poignant Since they represent an essential component of the person. Here is why:
The elements of the world can be divided into four major categories: 1) Lifeless matter, such as water, rocks, and so forth. 2) Vegetation. 3) Animal kingdom in all its species. 4) Humans. Found in each human – aside for the “human” element – are the other three elements as well: 1) One’s thoughts are akin to being lifeless, for they are totally personal. If one chooses to keep thoughts inside, they will remain that way, “lifeless” to every other person in the world. 2) One’s characteristics, which represent a person’s drive and personality, are akin to vegetation, for they grow from young to mature. They dictate the social abilities and the ultimate “growth” of the person. 3) One’s intelligence is compared to the animal kingdom, for animals are also granted a minimum level of intelligence.
Looking back at the Torah’s comparison of mankind to trees, an important and powerful message emerges. When “mankind is the tree of the field,” this means that the critical function of mankind – which is intelligence – is for the purpose of focusing upon the characteristics, comparable, as mentioned, to vegetation, or trees.
In other words, a person’s main function in this world is to refine and enhance one’s behavior and character. If there should be a character flaw, one must invest the effort to repair this imperfection. For this, of course, humans are granted brainpower and acumen. A complete person is one who manages to control his or her attributes, traits, and personality. When these are impeccable, the person has become complete.
With all the great achievements and advancements of men and women throughout history in all realms, the greatest and most significant achievements as far as the Torah is concerned, are self-control and self-improvement ones. The greatest people in history were not inventers, but who re-invented themselves, and then changed the world.
Wasps are not our friends. They have no redeeming qualities for people, and they mainly inflict damage and pain on people. The Lew family is soon going to bid these pests farewell. In the meantime, aside from the fascinating actions they perform, they – like all of the Almighty’s creations – provide valuable insight. While they may amaze people by their ability to be what they are, all this is basically automatic. True greatness, true preeminence, is when a person is able to overcome one’s own limitations and weaknesses, thus becoming a true and beautiful tree, providing sweet and nourishing fruits.
SUMMARY: Before dismissing pesky pests, think about their message. Even a lowly and stinging insect has something to teach about becoming a refined human being.