I have recently been reflecting upon the importance of knowing ones roots and carrying on traditions, and had reached out to my friend ” title=”ROI community” target=”_blank”>ROI community, which is a global network of Jewish innovators. Since their annual ” title=”"Bird Watchers Find Heaven in ‘Superhighway’ Israel."” target=”_blank”>“Bird Watchers Find Heaven in ‘Superhighway’ Israel.” In the article, Dr. Yossi Leshem, director of Israel’s International Centre for the Study of Bird Migration, relayed how above Israel and Palestinian territories, is the second busiest bird migration route in the world, trailing behind Panama in Central America. Every autumn, over 500 million birds cross Israel’s airspace, heading south to warmer weather in Africa. “Politically, it’s a disaster, but for bird migration, it’s heaven.” Due to the warm thermal air rising off the land below, the birds do not even have to flap their wings. The author of the article mentioned observing hundreds of pelicans soaring effortlessly, and I began to think again about the pelicans I had observed in Tampa, that were struggling to fly until they threw themselves towards the depths of the ocean and soared. The extraordinary bird migration in the area could have a significant amount of metaphors constructed regarding Muslim and Jewish relations. Birds have substantial meaning within both Judaism and Islam. The Talmud names about one hundred classes and varieties of birds, and I imagine all of them fly over Israel and Palestinian territories.
Upon Reflection
Since my question to Esther, I have come to understand that I am much more connected to my Jewish roots then I had believed, and that my own narrative already has many Jewish themes interwoven throughout it. I believe that as we are on our journey through life, it is truly important to be rooted in the authenticity and integrity of our own unique essence, allowing us to be more present with the divine. Each and every day, with open eyes, we can observe how similar to the Torah, our lives are full of symbolism and wonder, such as through the divine language of the birds.
