The Lion’s Bite

Moshe was out of a job when an interesting advertisement caught his eye: “The lion in the local zoo has died. Until we receive a new member, we are looking for someone to dress up as a lion so that the zoo’s popularity will not decline.”

Lacking an alternative, Moshe signed up for the job. After perusing his resume and checking his references, the board accepted him.

It was his first day at the job, and Moshe was on all fours, making roaring sounds and eating hay. All seemed nice and cool, and, aside from the stuffiness he felt being wrapped up in a lion costume, he was fine. And then the trouble started.

Without the slightest warning, the bear from the cage on the right jumped over the gate, and slowly advanced toward the lion. “I guess he smelled that I’m not the real stuff!” thought Moshe in despair.

When the bear was but a foot away, Moshe closed his eyes and shouted with all his might, “Shma Yisroel…!”

Before he could continue, he was interrupted by the shout of the bear: “Hashem Elokeinu!”

And the tiger in the cage on the left finished off with a cry of “Hashem Echod!”

* * *

The highlight of this week’s Torah portion is none other than: The Flood. This was such a monumental event in history, affecting and altering our planet forever, that even today, science is led to incorrect conclusions about the age of the earth and the origins of life because of the mutations and chemical changes which resulted.

If we examine the story of the flood in depth, we encounter the story of the lion’s bite. Once, Noah, who was responsible for the welfare of all creatures in the ark, was late delivering the lion’s daily meal. The lion turned aggressive and bit him in the leg. It was as if the lion wanted him to feel the pain that was prevalent outside of his waterproof, impenetrable “fortress.”

So what did Noah do? Do you think he gave up his duty of preserving life on this planet due to some lion’s way of expressing impatience? No; he stayed devoted to his mission. For each day thereafter, he continued serving each and every creature. And thanks to his patience, we have those beautiful lions to admire in the zoo…

It sort of resembles our status as Jews today. After six million of our finest were lost in the modern-day Flood, in addition to the thousands and millions that have been taken from us throughout the difficult years of exile, we find ourselves left as “lonesome cowboys.” There are only but a precious few left to fulfill the G-dly mission of spreading goodness and kindness in a world flooded with worship of the physical and mundane.

So we may dedicate our lives to a higher purpose, be it Rabbinic or lay leadership or upholding honesty and trust in business despite societal pressures. It might be support for the territorial integrity of Israel or charitable funding for Jewish education. Each Jew in his or her own way fights for a better world by preserving the legacy of our great history.

Yet, sometimes, we get bitten by a snide comment, a stolen wallet, or by real animosity. At times, the people in whom we have invested so much return a favor with a punch, compensating for love with hate. Our children, pupils and friends, may let us down all too often.

However, we must not forsake our mission; we cannot afford to give up. We continue with our mission of love and caring, knowing that, in the end, goodness will be victorious. Our children will come back, and the investment of trust, education, and love that we have made in our students and friends will not go in vain. It’s all a matter of time.

Patience! After all, we are changing the world. And big changes happen slowly, one step at a time.