B"H
THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF IYAR
"SWAN SONG"
This is the swan sitting on her nest
Dear Friends:
Every spring, a pair of swans builds its nest on an island across from our home. For ten years we have seen them arrive faithfully. The mother sits on her nest for weeks. If she wants a little break, the father takes over. The nest is always in exactly the same spot, and every day we look out our window to check on the progress of this little family.
Shortly after Passover, the chicks are born. There are always four babies; dark grey in color, they don't look much like swans in the beginning, but soon they are in the water with mommy and daddy. Daddy swims first, followed by the children, with mommy taking up the rear. Soon, the babies get bigger, whiten up and begin to look like swans. After a while, they go off on their own and we don't see them any more. Next year it happens all over again.
Until this year.
We didn't quite realize that this "island" is only an island at high tide. But when the tide goes out, it's connected to the mainland, a tidal marsh that's part of a wildlife sanctuary. As my wife was cleaning for Passover this year, our housekeeper - who keeps a keen watch on the wildlife scene - let out a yell.
"Call the police!"
My wife rushed over to the window. Mommy and daddy swan had abandoned the nest. There, snarling and slavering, were three wild dogs, snapping at the swans and forcing them into the water. The "head" dog, in his frenzy, even splashed into the water after them. And then the dogs ate the swans' eggs!
The mother swan still sits on her nest, but it is empty.
We can learn a lot from nature. With respect and humility, I suggest that we take this incident into our hearts and ponder it. We are in Sefira, a time for exalted spiritual growth, but also a time of danger, during which the Children of Israel have suffered terribly throughout history.
My friends, the dogs are circling, snarling, threatening the innocent ones. The world is filled with danger.
Once we had shepherds; we had protection. Many of those shepherds are no longer with us. Who are the shepherds if not the great Torah leaders of Israel, who by their presence shield us from harm. How many have left us during the past months, years, decades! I remember Rabbi Avraham Pam, Zaicher Tzaddik Livracha. We had the privilege to meet him on several occasions and felt that we were in the presence of an angel. He was physically small, yet he towered over the world in the profundity of his humility and Torah greatness. He passed on to the World of Truth some two weeks before the attack on the Twin Towers, and I remember someone saying that it could not have happened had he been alive.
The Torah shepherds protect us; their greatness is our shield. The first blessing in the Shemoneh Esreh ends with the words, "magen Avraham," the shield of Abraham. G-d finds ways to protect us, but we must exert ourselves to be worthy.
And now the dogs circle around us, their fangs exposed, their tongues hanging out. The president of Iran openly declares his intentions, his hatred of our people. Innocent boys are slaughtered over their Gemoras, holy souls in the halls of Torah, and the dogs of the world dance and jump. Some of them are shown on the news; most of them are not shown on the news. They mock us and lick their lips, waiting for their moment to arrive, G-d forbid.
What are we to do?
My book, "2020 VISION," will with G-d's help be released this month by Feldheim Publishers. The book begins with a striking quotation from the Malbim, [1] as follows: "In the End of Days, after the Children of Israel have returned to their land, the children of Ishmael (the Moslem nations) and the children of Esau (the Western nations) will unite to attack Jerusalem. They will form a world coalition against the tiny nation of Israel. But something will go wrong with their plan. The religious beliefs of the children of Ishmael and the children of Esau will clash, and the two nations will collide and destroy each other. This is what is referred to as the War of Gog and Magog. Following this cataclysmic conflict, the Final Redemption of the Jewish People will occur with the coming of Messiah the Son of King David."
My dear friends, this is our answer to the dogs.
G-d is setting the stage for their final destruction. I once heard the following parable [2] : all the animals were having a convention in the forest. The lion came over and ordered the little lamb to attend the convention. The lamb replied, "I would prefer to remain here in the beautiful meadow, quietly eating the lovely grass in peace."
"No, lamb," said the lion, "all animals are required to attend the convention."
Seeing that resistance was useless, the lamb followed the lion to the clearing in the forest, but hid behind a tree where she could watch without being seen. Soon the great convention began. The lion strode forward and proclaimed, "I am king of the beasts. I am in charge of all the animals."
Silence. Until the elephant strode forward and put his great foot on the lion, squashing him upon the ground. "Excuse me," said the elephant, "who said you are in charge? You are nothing compared to me."
Silence again, until a low growl was heard. The grizzly bear walked up to the elephant and took a bite of his leg. "Who said you are in charge, elephant? I am the fiercest animal!"
All at once, there was a huge roar and commotion! Every animal attacked every other animal! The lamb cowered behind the tree, hoping to remain invisible. She refused to look at the melee. But then, all of a sudden, there was dead silence. The lamb peered from behind the tree trunk; all the animals had killed each other! Not one was left alive.
My dear friends, let us grip tightly the "aitz chayim," the Tree of Life. Let us hold fast to that which has sustained us from days of old, from the moment we stood at Mount Sinai. As we count off the days of the Omer and near the moment when we re-accept the Holy Torah, let us know with utmost certainty that the Tree of Life will sustain us forever. As we say in Hallel, "G-d is with me; I have no fear; how can man affect me?" [3]
With blessings for a speedy redemption and the imminent arrival of Moshiach ben Dovid!
Roy S. Neuberger
© Copyright 2008 by Roy S. Neuberger
[1] The Malbim (Rabbi Meir Leibish ben Yechiel Michel, 1808 - 1879). This commentary on Yechezkel ha Novi (Ezekiel the Prophet, Chapter 32, Verse 17) was most graciously pointed out to me by my dear friend, Rabbi Amos Bunim.
[2] I believe this is from a Medrash, but I cannot remember the source.
[3] Psalm 118
