THE APPLE TREE’S DISCOVERY
EREV ROSH HASHANAH 5762
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

As has been my custom over the past years, I will share a story with you, which has touched my heart, as I hope it will touch yours. Whether humorous or serious, from the “Chicken Soup” series or elsewhere, I hope that the pieces I have found will help us reflect on our inner selves, will enable us to improve some facet of our persons, to make us better spouses, children, parents, human beings, in the coming year. Even though some stories are written in simplicity, they are embedded with deep meaning. This year’s story, author unknown, was written by master storytellers, Peninah Schram and Rachayl Eckstein Davis, and is entitled, “The Apple Tree’s Discovery.”

In a great oak forest where the trees grew tall and majestic, there was a little apple tree. It was the only apple tree in that forest and so it stood alone.

Winter came. As the snow fell to the forest floor, it covered the branches of the little apple tree. The forest was quiet and peaceful.

One night, the little apple tree looked up at the sky and saw a wonderful sight. Between the branches of all the trees, the little apple tree saw the stars in the sky, which appeared to be hanging on the branches of the oak tree.

“Oh God, Oh God,” whispered the little apple tree, “how lucky those oak trees are to have such beautiful stars handing on their branches. I want more than anything in the world to have stars on my branches, just like the oak trees have! Then I would feel truly special.” God looked down at the little apple tree and said gently, “Have patience! Have patience, little apple tree.”

Time passed, the snow melted and spring came to the land. Tiny white and pink apple blossoms appeared on the branches of the little apple tree. Birds came to rest on its branches. People walked by the little apple tree and admired its beautiful blossoms.

All summer long, the apple tree continued to grow. The branches of the tree formed a canopy overhead as they filled with leaves and blossoms. But night after night, the little apple tree looked up at the sky with the millions and millions of stars and cried out, “Oh God, I want more than anything in the world to have stars in my tree and on my branches and in my leaves, just like those oak trees.”

And God looked down at the little apple tree and said, “You already have gifts. Isn’t it enough to have shade to offer people, and fragrant blossoms, and branches on which the birds can rest so they can sing you their song?”

The apple tree sighed and answered simply, “Dear God, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but that is not special enough! I do appreciate how much pleasure I give to others, but what I really want more than anything in the world is to have stars, not blossoms, on my branches. Then I would feel truly special!”

God smiled and answered, “Be patient, little apple tree.”

The seasons changed again, and soon, the apple tree was filled with many beautiful apples. People walked in the forest. Whoever saw the apple tree would reach up, pick an apple and eat it.

And still, when the night came to the forest, the apple tree looked at the stars in the oak trees and called out, “Oh God, I want more than anything in the world to have stars on my branches! Then I would feel truly special!”

And God asked, “But apple tree, isn’t it enough that you now have such wonderful apples to offer the people? Doesn’t that satisfy you? Doesn’t that give you enough pleasure and make you feel special?” Without saying a word, the apple tree answered by shaking its branches from side to side.

At that moment, God caused a wind to blow. The great oak trees began to sway and the apple tree began to shake. From the top of the apple tree, an apple fell. When it hit the ground, it split open. “Look,” commanded God, “Look inside yourself. What do you see?”

The little apple tree looked down and saw that right in the middle of the apple was a star. And the apple tree answered, “A star! I have a star!”

And God laughed a gentle laugh and added, “So you do have stars on your branches. They’ve been there all along, and you just didn’t know it.”

My dear friends, there ends the story, but its message has the opportunity to fill our lives with hope, optimism and self-respect. In the Birchot HaShachar, Preliminary Morning Prayers, there is a most beautiful prayer whch says: “The soul that You, my God, has given me is pure. You created it. You formed it. You breathed it into me; You keep my body and soul together.” I always recite that piece silently. It’s between me and God. I love that prayer. Referring to previous pieces, I might not catch the ball so well or hit a home run. I’m not the tallest nor the smartest. But I do have something very special. I have God’s gift of my soul. The abilities that I do have, are God’s gifts to me, to make of them what I might. I can, we can discover that God has given us the gifts of courage, bravery, compassion, concern and love. We all have an abundance of God’s gifts, if we but look within our own selves. Discovering that knowledge bestows inner tranquility and satisfaction. To return to the metaphor of the story, usually, when we want to cut an apple, we cut it by holding the apple with its stem up. But in order to find its star, we must turn it on its side. If we change our direction a little bit, we too can find the spark that ignites the star inside each of us. The stars are right there within each one of us. Look carefully, look carefully and you’ll find that beautiful star. Our neshamas can be a divine reflection.

Tonight, here in our shul, and in synagogues throughout the world, using the liturgy of the Machzor as a mirror, we look inside themselves and reach for that star within. The whole point of these High Holy Days is indeed to change our direction a bit. We can’t and we shouldn’t try to change an apple tree into an oak tree or vice versa. Perhaps we have to reach within ourselves instead of trying to grab from without.

Each of us has the seeds that grow, to establish roots, sprout branches and with God’s help, to produce fruit. As we begin these Aseret Yemei T’shuva, these ten days of repentance, from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, let us be patient, let us turn the apple on its side; let us plot a new course for ourselves. Let our prayers reach the heavens, and may the response from God cause us to look within ourselves so that we, and those near and dear to us, will be eternally blessed.

From my family to yours, Leshanah Tova Tikatevu – May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life for a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year.

Amen.