In the forest grew a small pine tree with nice-looking green needles and a sweet smell that only a pine tree can have. Sadly, the pine tree did not like its needles. “My needles are always green,” complained pine tree. “I dislike them. If I had leaves of gold I would be more beautiful than all the other trees in the forest.”
The Angel of the Forest heard the tree and said: “I will give the pine tree leaves of gold, and we shall see what happens.” The Angel descended from the Heavens and touched the little pine tree with the tip of his wing. The next morning, the pine tree was fully clothed with leaves of gold. When the wind blew, the leaves glistened in the sun and tin¬kled like little bells. “Ah,” sighed the pine tree, ‘who among the trees of the forest can compare with me?”
A man passed by and heard the tinkle of the leaves. He looked up and saw the pine tree. His eyes wid¬ened at the sight of so much gold. “What a treasure,” he murmured greedily. The man approached pine tree and stuffed his pockets with its leaves.
Now the pine tree stood bare and shamefaced. It said: “No longer will I seek leaves of gold. I wish I had leaves of glass. They would be lovely and no one would steal them from me.”
The Angel of the Forest heard and smiled. The following morning the pine tree was covered with leaves of glass. The tree was overjoyed. Its new leaves sparkled in the sunlight. The pine tree thought, “These make me ever so much more beautiful than all the other trees of the forest.” Suddenly a gust of wind swept through the forest. The glass leaves fell to the ground and shattered into small bits. By evening the tree was bare again. It cried, “I wish I had green leaves like other trees about me. People will not steal my leaves, and the wind will not break them.”
That night the Angel of the forest swept down from the Heavens and again touched the pine tree. In the first light of morning, pine tree saw itself fully clothed with green leaves. Proudly, it said: “My green leaves are truly beautiful. Now I am happy.” While the tree was admiring itself, a hungry goat passed by. And thought to itself, “Here is a grand breakfast! How tasty these leaves look!” Wagging its beard in glee, the goat ate up all the new leaves until there was not a leaf left on the tree.
“Alas!” cried the pine tree. “Even green leaves will not do. They serve well enough on the big trees, but they will never do for a small tree like me. If only I could have my needles back. They will not be stolen, nor broken, nor eaten.”
Up in Heaven, the Angel of the Forest glanced at the Heavenly Calendar and chuckled. The next day would be Tu Bi-Shevat. The plan had worked well. The time-table was complete. When the pine tree awoke, it was because the rustling of its pine needles brushed the sleep from its branches. It cried, “Hurrah! My needles are back! Never again will I wish to be anything but what I am!”
And never did a tree have a happier Tu Bi-Shevat than pine tree that sunlit day.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
Click here for more storytelling resources
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)