Even as our world becomes less dependent on paper to communicate ideas, how can we ignore the legacy of ideas that has been inseparable from paper?
When we reflect on our environment, we are reminded of our great blessing—we live in the Disneyland of nature.
I recall a few years back when we were dealing with gophers who seemed to be eating away at the vegetation on our property, I contacted a company that uses organic methods that are not harmful to the animals. The fellow said, "You must not forget, you moved into their home, not the other way around."
The statement gave me a whole new perspective on our environment and what it means to be a "good neighbor" to nature.
If you go to Google maps and type in 90265, you will quickly notice the big green patch that sets this city aside from the surrounding areas. One does not need to do a serious study to note the amazing tree-per-person ratio in Malibu, especially compared to what we see in nearby cities.
"Man is a tree of the field," and the Jewish calendar, in an observance dating back thousands of years, reserves one day each year (this year, this past Wednesday)— for the "New Year for Trees."
There are so many gifts that we receive from the world of trees. Whether it be the air that we breathe, the clothes that we wear or the fruit that we eat—we are so dependent on trees.
Even as our world becomes less dependent on paper to communicate ideas, how can we ignore the legacy of ideas that has been inseparable from paper?
In Brooklyn, N.Y., on Eastern Parkway, there is one of the most prominent Judaic libraries in the world. It contains about 250,000 published volumes, most of which are rare. Every one of these books has a story, many of these are stories of survival from villains of anti-Semitism. Today, more than 50,000 of these important books and manuscripts have been scanned and are now online in digital format at no charge.
Consider this: If not for the trees, the important information these books contain, and their messages of hope and endurance, would have gone to the grave.
So to the trees on our planet, I say, "Thank you, and I hope we can learn to be as giving and selfless as you!"