Dear Friends,
Torah teaches that after sending out the dove to look for dry land, when the tired bird returned, Noah
extended his hand to the exhausted bird who was out of energy, and he brought her back into the safety
of the ark.
It is time for us to extend a hand.
There are tired people out there, and they – we – need a hand. Some of us need to extend our hand,
while others need to reach for that extended hand.
Yes, there is considerable tiredness out and about, and I hear it in conversations ubiquitously. I trust
that you do, too.
It is time to extend a hand. Genesis recalls regarding Noah, that “He extended his hand, took her – the dove – and brought her to him into the ark.” (Genesis 8:9) If Noah could reach out and bring to safety and quiet an exhausted bird which did not have the strength to enter the ark on her own, not letting her fall into the water and perish, then we can find little ways to offer hands to those among us who are tired.
There are times when an ark is just what God ordered. It is time to leave the mess behind, climb into the big boat, and sale away.
But, there are other times – far more often – when our task is to reach out and bring others in, like Noah with the dove, and give a measure of calm, kindness and comfort. Such is the time in which we are living.
Let’s extend hands to those among us!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Torah teaches that after sending out the dove to look for dry land, when the tired bird returned, Noah
extended his hand to the exhausted bird who was out of energy, and he brought her back into the safety
of the ark.
It is time for us to extend a hand.
There are tired people out there, and they – we – need a hand. Some of us need to extend our hand,
while others need to reach for that extended hand.
Yes, there is considerable tiredness out and about, and I hear it in conversations ubiquitously. I trust
that you do, too.
- People are tired of the bickering.
- People are tired of political dehumanizing and demoralizing.
- People are tired of fear used as a cudgel.
- People are tired of worry over the price of eggs.
- People are tired of holding their tongues for fear that any simple slight might be taken as pretense for upset or even violence, or a neighbor pulling a gun in a driveway.
- People are tired of being tired.
- People are tired of wondering if the message on the television is truth, or fabrication.
- People are tired with the rancor.
It is time to extend a hand. Genesis recalls regarding Noah, that “He extended his hand, took her – the dove – and brought her to him into the ark.” (Genesis 8:9) If Noah could reach out and bring to safety and quiet an exhausted bird which did not have the strength to enter the ark on her own, not letting her fall into the water and perish, then we can find little ways to offer hands to those among us who are tired.
There are times when an ark is just what God ordered. It is time to leave the mess behind, climb into the big boat, and sale away.
But, there are other times – far more often – when our task is to reach out and bring others in, like Noah with the dove, and give a measure of calm, kindness and comfort. Such is the time in which we are living.
Let’s extend hands to those among us!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn