Words From Rabbi White

When I was a very young boy, growing up in Boston, I felt bad for boys growing up in New York. For we had the Red Sox, but the New Yorkers had to root for the Yankees. Ugh! 

That was a silly, childish thought. But, maybe not. Can you believe? After all the pride that Aaron Judge brought to NY this past summer, breaking Babe Ruth's 60 home run barrier by 2, and with a .311 batting ave, the fans booed him during past season.. twice!

Well, the Yankees' manager dismissed the behaviour, by saying "it's the Bronx, man!" (As in the expression "the Bronx cheer.") Shame on NYC!

In this week's parasha, we read how Noah saved the animals, by keeping them in the ark. How did the animals survive in the ark? According to midrash Tanhuma, neither Noah nor his sons ever slept, for they were busy day and night feeding the animals, for the whole 12 months of riding the waves.

Nevertheless, Rashi (on 7:23) quotes another passage in Tanhuma that the lion attacked Noah because one day, Noah was late in feeding him. Such lack of gratitude!  Every day Noah worked very hard to bring food on time; one day he was a bit late, and for that, he was attacked.

Perhaps there is a lesson here: what can we expect from a lion? He might be the king of beasts, but he's just an animal. But a human being should show respect and gratitude to other people. Shame on Yankee fans!

Post-script. When I was in Florida over Hol haMoed, we took the children to Lion Safari, where it was forbidden to feed the animals. And then we went to a lovely petting zoo, where we were encouraged to feed the animals. As Kohelet might have said, there is a time for everything: a time to feed, and a time not to feed. 

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Menahem White