The tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. A tree which has captured the imaginations of theologians, novelists and artists. It is portrayed as both majestic and menacing, with fruit of a delightful color and texture, perhaps with an imp peeking out from behind its trunk. What did this tree actually look like? What about this tree was so evil that a single bite of its fruit condemned mankind to mortality and suffering forever? 
 
Jewish tradition identifies this tree. In fact, the Talmud and Zohar offer several possibilities as to its identity. A fig tree, a grapevine, a stock of wheat, an Ethrog tree. None of these is unique to the garden of paradise, none of them strikes us as particularly magnificent or ominous. None of them is forbidden to us by the Torah. More, each is singled out for special praise. Wheat, grapes and figs are three of the fruits for which the land of Israel is praised. The Ethrog is called the most beautiful fruit, and is set apart by the Torah as part of the Succos festivities. Wine gladdens the heart of man… bread satisfies the heart of man (Psalm 104:15). Wine “gladdens G-d and men (Judges 9:13)”. 
 
But all this is beside the point. If we search for evil in the tree itself, not only will we search in vain, but we will have misunderstood the message of the Torah and the way of life it commends. Neither the tree nor its fruit, neither the serpent nor Satan is inherently evil. Good and evil in this, G-d's world, are determined solely by obedience or disobedience to G-d. Not the grape or the fig but failure to heed G-d’s Word was the downfall of Adam and Eve, and the end of Paradise.
 
This was indeed a Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. It taught Adam and his descendants how to assess what is good or evil for us. Not what is good to eat and pleasing to the eye holds the key to our happiness, but what is appointed to us by G-d. The Torah provides us with all we need to create for ourselves a paradise on earth. Following its directives grants us happiness and fulfillment, real prosperity and success. Failure to do so opens our eyes to the fact that we are empty and naked: that we have become bereft of the one thing of real value this world has to offer.