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February 10, 2012
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David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Feb. 21, 2008
/ 15 Adar I 5768
Lessons from a hummingbird
By Amy H. Lederman
Judaism's view of how to treat animals has been 'progressive' for millennia. More importantly, it's sensible
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
It had been going on for several weeks before I finally mustered up the courage to tell my husband about it. We were sitting on our front porch eating breakfast, enjoying the tranquility of a beautiful spring morning.
"Honey, I think I'm being stalked," I said, breaking the serenity.
He looked at me, not certain if he should be concerned or amused.
"Are you kidding me or what?"
My answer came about 30 seconds later when the predator came into sight.
A tiny hummingbird flitted over my head, darting back and forth near my shoulders.
"I'm totally serious," I said, tilting my head toward the hummer to emphasize the gravity of the situation.
"Maybe we should call 911, or better yet, you could dress up as a hawk and give it a real scare," he said, clearly not taking my plight seriously.
I am not an alarmist but I knew something significant was going on. I couldn't be on my porch for more than a minute without the hummer hovering overhead. I began to wonder: Is this a visitor from the "other side"— perhaps my grandmother or aunt wanting to tell me something? Should I do anything about it?
I became obsessed, consulting friends and reading books about the meaning of the hummingbird. I learned that it is the tiniest of all birds and is the only creature that can stop dead while traveling at full speed. It can hover or fly forward, backward, up, or down, its wings moving in the configuration of an eight, the sign for infinity.
But one morning everything changed. As I was drinking my coffee, I noticed something that resembled half of a walnut shell on a branch of the potted fichus tree next to our front door. There, camouflaged amidst the leaves, was the tiniest, most compact nest I have ever seen. Suddenly I understood. My hummer was not a stalker; she was a lovely little mother protecting her eggs. I was the predator!
The magic and the miracle of having a hummingbird nest on my porch overwhelmed me. I stopped several times each day to watch her — a bird whose wings normally flap 50 times per second — sit perfectly still atop her nest. I marveled at the complexity of the nest, made of moss, fiber, and plant down, and how smart she was to choose a shaded place on my porch. I witnessed her commitment to her eggs and honored her maternal instincts.
One evening I went out on the porch and turned on the front light. My hummer became frantic, flying around in circles, bumping into the ceiling, and hitting up against the window. I raced to turn off the light and realized that not only had I nearly scared her to death but had disturbed the night-time cycle of her nesting. I felt terrible and apologized profusely to her as my husband shook his head and began paging through the yellow pages, searching for mental health care providers.
I have always loved animals and have been accused of favoring my dog over my teenage children at times. But not until the hummer made her nest on my porch, have I experienced such compassion for them.
The Jewish commandment to treat animals with compassion is articulated on numerous occasions throughout the Torah and the Talmud. In Deuteronomy, we are commanded not to work on the Sabbath and we must not require our animals to do so. We are told how to avoid causing suffering (Tza'ar ba'alei chaim) by not muzzling an animal when it is working so that it can eat when it needs to, or plowing with an ox and mule together because their unequal size and strength will cause them both to suffer. My personal favorite is the prohibition of taking baby birds from the nest while the mother is present because of the pain that she would experience. How amazing to think that more than 2,500 years ago, our Jewish ancestors were concerned with protecting the feelings of animals.
There is an exception to the prohibition of causing pain to animals, however. Jewish tradition permits the use of animals for the purpose of benefiting mankind — in such areas as medical research, for example, where the intention is to use animals in furtherance of finding a life-saving cure or other treatment that would benefit humanity.
I read that hummingbirds do not re-use the same nest, but return to the same location to build a new nest, often on top of the old one. I take this as a sign that my home has been blessed with the joy and wonder of this tiny creature and a reminder that in all of life, we are commanded to act with compassion and tenderness, not only to each other but to the animal kingdom as well.
JewishWorldReview.com regularly publishes uplifting articles. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Amy Hirshberg Lederman is a nationally syndicated columnist, educator, public speaker and attorney.
Comment by clicking here.
© 2007, Amy Hirshberg Lederman
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