October 8, 2010

The dove and the olive branch. Ever wondered from where it originated? Not Picasso. But rather from this week's Torah reading, the story of Noah. After previous unsuccessful attempts to find land, the dove returned with the famous branch showing God's flood had begun to subside. Life would be renewed. A world of peace could be built upon the ruins of a world already ruined before the first raindrop. The evil, debauchery, thievery and ungodliness which prevailed was no more, and the olive branch was the first to raise it's head above water and declare victory for God, Noah, righteousness, morality and humankind. Beautiful.

So why was the dove punished? That's right, something it did was so consequential that its eternal Blessing was forever compromised (so says our tradition). In fact, the language, rather word choice of the Torah seems to describe the branch not as plucked, but rather killed - עלה זית טרף בפיה the olive branch was 'killed' in its mouth. Says our sensitive and exacting tradition in the Midrash, "if it were not killed, how many tress may have grown." It didn't need the olive, the seed, per se to bring the message of salvation and hope to a desolate world. It should not have been over exuberant in its announcement of success. Rather it should have understood, especially considering the circumstances of potential environmental genocide, the potential of life, its value and its sacredness.

A branch in the dove's mouth would have been enough of a sign for peace. The olive would have populated the world one by one by one by one, and perhaps we'd be tasting the offspring-oil of the very first fruit that was granted a peaceful world. Our sages teach of exacting care and precision, even when performing a mitzvoh, and appreciation for all of God's creation. Now I know it doesn't seem right giving the proverbial messenger of peace and good tidings such a raking over the coals, and we must certainly appreciate all the dove's efforts and its timeless message. But when we're discussing 'peace', we Jews know the word Shalom is rooted in the word Shaleim - meaning complete. Completion is our goal, peace the result. We should be wary of over-exuberant gestures of Peace in place of critical and careful consideration, no matter how exciting they are and how anti-climactic the opposite.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Lynn