Not to plant a tree near a religious altar, even purely for decorative purposes in worshipping the true
G-d. A common pagan custom is to plant trees, or rows of trees, in their temples and around their altars to beautify them. To avoid even resembling such customs, Torah Law prohibits planting trees anywhere in the Jerusalem Temple, as well as near an altar to
G-d in any other location.
Pagans also planted trees for the purpose of worshipping the tree itself, or for decorating the tree as part of idolatrous worship ceremonies, or to make alcoholic beverages from its fruit juice for idolatrous rituals. To use a tree for idolatry is separately prohibited by commandment -6, generally under death penalty. This commandment deals only with the use of trees for neutral or non-idolatrous religious purposes.
Examples:
- Not to decorate a tree for holiday celebration, such as during December, even in the absence of any Christian religious content but merely for social purposes.
- Not to grow or sell trees for such use by others.