There was once a boy who went off every day into the woods. His curious father asked him, “What are you doing out there?” The boy responded, “I go there to pray because in the forest I am nearer to God.” The father laughed, “Don’t you know that God is the same no matter where you are?” The boy replied, “God may be, but I’m not.” Nature’s ability to awaken the sacred within us is not a new concept in Judaism. However, it is not something that was emphasized to many of us growing up. Judaism is a tradition and also an innovation that changes over time. In the modern era, influenced by the Enlightenment in Europe, a great deal of Jewish spirituality was repressed. Rationalism and scientific thinking were emphasized instead. Greek-influenced philosophers like Maimonides (12th century) were brought to the forefront while nature mystics like the Ba’al Shem Tov (18th century) were downplayed.