I n the third chapter of Pirkei Avos which we learn this Shabbos one mishnah seems perturbing at first reading. The mishnah says “When a person is walking along the road reviewing his learning and he interrupts his learning to say ‘What a beautiful tree! What a beautiful field!’ Scripture considers him as one who forfeits his life” (Avos 3:7).
What does this mean? Are we really forbidden to enjoy the beauty of This World forbidden to be captivated by the marvels of nature? Haven’t Chazal taught us otherwise exhorting us to open our eyes and hearts to the wonderful world around us and draw from its pleasures? Each brachah we make is an expression of thanks and we don’t say thank you for something that is out of bounds.
In fact the blessings we recite over worldly pleasures is a blessing upon viewing beautiful trees. Halachah bids us to say bircas ha’ilanos in the spring when the fruit trees first come into bloom each year. The words of the blessing clearly imply that Judaism bids us to take pleasure in nature: “Blessed are You… Who has omitted nothing in His world and has created in it good creations and good trees by which to give pleasure to people.”
If a tree was created for us to enjoy why does the mishnah impose a stricture? Why is a person said to “forfeit his life” if he stops for a moment to admire a beautiful tree?
