Hi there from a non-Jew. I have a question.

[Cleita]

My neighbors just gave me a certificate stating that a tree had been planted in Israel for my deceased husband. I want to thank them for the thoughtful gesture, but I want to know a little bit more about what this is about. Can anyone help me?

[Behind the Aegis]

1. I'll take a crack.

Perhaps a more knowledgeable person will correct me if I am wrong, but...

Jews see trees as representatives of life and strength. To plant a tree in honor of someone, is a symbolic gesture that person's spirit will continue to live and be strong. If a tree is planted after someone's passing, it is a living memorial to that person. Now, the addition of the tree being planted in Israel is to show reference to the bounty of life given Israel and to add life back to a desolate land.

There is a similar 'philosophy' in ancient Greece among the Amazons. They believed that a tree made a more fitting memorial because it was a living thing, as opposed to a rock (tombstone), which was cold, not living, and didn't inspire joy, but sadness.

What they did was a very nice thing. In their own way, they have provided your husband with a living memorial. It is my understanding that trees planted in that manner (as a memorial), also get a name-plate. So, those who see that tree will see that it was planted in the name of your husband, so others will also think of him.

I have seen you in the astrology room, so if I didn't say it there, I am sorry for your loss. :hug:

[Cleita]

2. Thank you for your answer. I am very touched that they

did this and the fact that my late husband was a tree hugger as I am makes it an even more touching gesture. I now have something that I can put in my thank you note. Thank you again.

[rockymountaindem]

3. That's a good explanation.

I did a report one time on the ecology of Israel for my HS biology class. I found out that Israel is the only country in the world dealing with "aforestation", or a profusion of forest where none existed before as a result of tree-planting. This is causing a small problem as it consumes pieces of the desert, although it doesn't seem to damage the wildlife. They either move somewhere else or learn to live with the trees.

[SammyBlue]

4. Consider it one of our highest honors.

Oskar Schindler has a tree planted on the aveune of the righteous in Israel.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Here's some info from JNF.org. We were going to plant a tree garden

in Israel for my son's Bar Mitzvah, but I think he's decided to donate to Habitat for Humanity for the Karina victims. Here's the link I saved.



http://www.jnf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Donation_Opportunities&s_affiliateCode=2002

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

6. Cleita, I'm very sorry for your lost. May he rest in peace.

That was indeed a lovely gesture.

Incidentally, it is not customary to have flowers at Jewish funerals because they eventually die. Many times, one will see in an obit, "In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to a favorite charity." I like the tree idea myself. We used to give money to plant trees in Israel when I was in Sunday school as a kid.