[Avodah] Tu B'Shvat "Don't Cut Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (No Tachanun Today)

[Richard Wolberg]

"When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to seize  
it, do not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them, for from  
it you will eat, and you shall not cut it down; for is the tree of the  
field a man that it should be besieged before you?" (Devarim 20:19)
In the midst of a chapter dealing with warfare, which by definition is  
destructive, the Torah demands that the Jew remains conscious of the  
need to maintain his regard for the general welfare and cleave to his  
love of goodness and peace. If we try to remain good even at times  
that call forth our basest instincts, we will try not to waste even a  
mustard seed, and resultingly will be able to perfect our characters  
steadily. (Chinuch). 
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