Dear TLS,
After reading last week’s letter about uneven sidewalks, I wanted to mention something else homeowners can check. Sometimes the problem isn’t under our feet. It’s right in front of our faces.
I was walking with my husband on Shabbos when we passed a tree with some low, thin branches hanging over the sidewalk. I hardly noticed them. My husband certainly did: a branch hit him in the face and knocked his hat off.
His hat landed on the ground and was dirty for the rest of Shabbos.
Was this a major incident? No. But it was unpleasant, and it could have been avoided with a little trimming.
A branch that doesn’t bother one person can be right in someone else’s way. Please take a walk past your property and check that your trees and bushes leave enough room for people to pass comfortably. Not just down by their feet, but up by their heads, too.
A little off the tree is better than a hat off someone’s head.
(Not actual photo of the tree)
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Could it have been a fruit tree thst is not permitted to trim
good limud zechus (judging favorably – Jews may generally not cut edible fruit trees). For that, someone suggested tying the branches back – like with zip ties
Yes, required for property owners, and chesed (kindness) for whoever can help out in neighborhood.