|
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
 SAN DIEGO--When my daughter, Margalit, was in High School she found an injured bird in the street. She called Animal Control and was instructed to "catch it." She had no idea how to catch the bird and wisely captured it under an empty laundry basket until an Animal Control officer arrived. The officer took one look at the bird and said: "That's a raven! They are very dangerous!"
It is a good thing that Margalit ignored the initial advice.
Ravens are large omnivorous birds. You often see them circling Cowles Mountain and perched in trees on Tifereth Israel Synagogue's grounds. In recent years they have become agricultural pests and have long been associated with bad tidings. (Cf. Edgar Allan Poe: "Quoth the raven 'nevermore.'") It is not a bird for a novice to catch or tangle with!
Go to top of right column
|
|
Given the bird's bad reputation, it is not surprising that it failed to find dry land when Noah sent it forth from the ark. Perhaps the waters of the flood still covered the land, but it is also possible that this bird acted in accordance with its foul reputation and was simply too lazy to try to find dry earth.
Noah gave up on the raven and sent out a dove. The dove searched diligently and finding dry land, returned to Noah with an olive branch in its beak. Noah knew his long voyage had ended and from that day on the dove and olive branch have been symbols of peace.
There is a clear lesson for us in the failure of the raven and the success of the dove. God wanted to destroy the world because it had become corrupt and violent. He changed his mind and saved Noah to start creation anew. For God to have allowed a raven, a creature of darkness, violence, and contention, announce a new beginning for humanity would have gotten Noah and his brood off on the wrong foot with the wrong message. The dove, however, with its message of consolation and peace was a preferable fowl with which to begin creation all over again.
In our life we meet both ravens and doves. Let us flee from darkness and embrace light, life, and peace.
|
|
