(Devarim 16:21) "You shall not plant for yourself an asheirah (a tree devoted to idolatry)": We are hereby taught that one who plants an asheirah transgresses a negative commandment. And whence is it derived that one who plants a tree in the Temple mount transgresses a negative commandment? From "You shall not plant for yourself … any tree beside the altar of the L-rd your G-d."
R. Eliezer b. Yaakov says: Whence is it derived that a portico is not built in the azarah (the Temple court)? From "any tree (i.e., wood) beside the altar of the L-rd your G-d." "that you make for yourself": to include (in the interdict planting a tree beside) a bamah (a temporary altar).
(דברים טז כא) לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה כָּל עֵץ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הַנּוֹטֵעַ אֲשֵׁרָה עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. וּמִנַּיִן לַנּוֹטֵעַ אִילָן בְּהַר הַבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כָּל עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
(Devarim 16:21) "You shall not plant for yourself an asheirah (a tree devoted to idolatry)": We are hereby taught that one who plants an asheirah transgresses a negative commandment. And whence is it derived that one who plants a tree in the Temple mount transgresses a negative commandment? From "You shall not plant for yourself … any tree beside the altar of the L-rd your G-d."
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂים אַכְסַדְרָה בָּעֲזָרָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כָּל עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ – לְרַבּוֹת בָּמָה.
R. Eliezer b. Yaakov says: Whence is it derived that a portico is not built in the azarah (the Temple court)? From "any tree (i.e., wood) beside the altar of the L-rd your G-d." "that you make for yourself": to include (in the interdict planting a tree beside) a bamah (a temporary altar).
לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה, אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה (דברים יב ג): ״וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ״ – קַל וָחוֹמֶר שֶׁלֹּא יִטַּע! וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יְקַיֵּם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ – מִכָּל מָקוֹם.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: אֲפִלּוּ בַּיִת, אֲפִלּוּ