• Printer-friendly version
• Send to a friend

Choni, the righteous man, was journeying on the road and he saw a man planting a carob tree. He asked him, “how long does it take for this tree to bear fruit?” “In about 70 years,” answered the man. “But you are so old, you will never taste its fruit.” “You are right, but I have eaten the fruit of trees that have been planted before I was born. I plant for my daughters and sons, granddaughters and grandsons.”

Choni sat down to have a meal and sleep overcame him. As he slept, a rocky formation enclosed upon him which hid him from sight and he continued to sleep for seventy years. When he awoke he saw a man gathering the fruit of the carob tree and he asked him, “are you the man who planted the tree?” The man replied, “I am his grandson.” Thereupon Choni exclaimed: “It is clear that I slept for seventy years.” [Soncino]

1. Thinking honestly, are you more like Honi or the old man in your every day approach to producing and consuming resources?
2. The definition of sustainable development is "meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs". How does this story relate to contemporary notions of environmental responsibility and sustainable development?
3. What might surprise you about the world you find (other than the length of your sleep!) were you to awaken after 70 years?