Shittim wood is connected to Shtus?

Question

I've heard about a connection with the עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים being connected to שטות.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? (Posibly from Toras Lubavitch)

Answer 1

Both Midrash Tanchuma (Balak 16) and Bamidbar Rabba (20:22) Say almost the exact same thing. Here's the quote from Midrash Tanchuma:

וְכָל אוֹתָן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר, לֹא סָרְחוּ בָּעֲבֵרָה, עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לַשִּׁטִּים. לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב: וַיֵּשֵׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשִּׁטִּים, שִׁטִּים, שֶׁעָשׂוּ שְׁטוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: נוֹאֵף אִשָּׁה חֲסַר לֵב (משלי ו, לב).

In all those forty years that they were in the desert, they never committed the sin [of unchastity], until they came to Shittim. It is therefore stated (in Numb. 25:1), “While Israel was staying at Shittim, [the people began to commit harlotry].” 'Shittim', because they had committed folly ('shetut'), as stated (in Prov. 6:32), “One who commits adultery with a woman has no sense.”

Answer 2

Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Wisnefsky in Chochmah Yomit, Daily Wisdom by the Lubavitcher Rebbe explains (parashas Terumah):

The Hebrew word for “acacia” (shitah) means “bending.” The acacia tree is called the “bending” tree because it bends to the side as it grows, rather than growing straight up. The Hebrew word for “foolishness” (shetut) is another form of this word, since foolishness is an act of “bending” from the path dictated by logic.

In Sefer HaMaamarim, the Frierdiker Rebbe explains that the foolishness (shetut) is like a shell on our G-dly soul. It is like a "peel". It hides the light of the revelation of G-d and thus, a person could think that there is still a strong connection after doing something extremely foolish. He does not feel an seperation from G-d, so to speak.

This is why the Gemara teaches us that "a man commits a transgression only if a spirit of folly [shetut] enters him" (Sotah 3a).

The Rabbeinu Bahya has an interesting way of looking at it. He says:

The meaning of the words: “upright standing acacia wood,” is that these woods lend hope and spiritual fortitude to those who look upon them. If you perchance would think that after all they have now been lost to us and just as they have been lost so has our hope faded, the Torah described them as “standing,” i.e. in the present tense, to reassure you that the concept they represent will endure forever and ever.” The word צפוין in the Talmud there means “the power which is expected of them by those looking at them with hope.” The meaning of the words מעמידין אותו הכוח is תלה גדול בקטן, “that the great was made dependent on the small,” The wood of the shittim trees held the gold overlay in place instead of vice versa.

Answer 3

The Rebbe Rayatz spoke about it in Chapters 3-5 of the discourse Basi Legani:

The word used in the Torah for "acacia" is Shita, the root of which implies deviation in either direction, higher or lower, from a middle path.

The same root also implies foolishness, for foolishness (Shtus) is a deviation from the middle path of knowledge and wisdom.

It goes on to explain that sin comes from a spirit of unholy shtus and we can counteract it with a spirit of holy shtus which transcends reason.

The Rebbe would ultimately appropriate Basi Legani as a sort of mission statement upon accepting leadership of Lubavitch, and he would deliver a discourse each year expounding on one chapter of the original. You can find the ones on these chapters here, here and here.