Sermons & Stories

This weeks Torah portion includes a talking donkey that helps teach humility to the great prophet Bilaam. And with great humility, he blesses the Israelites instead of cursing them. While we have two talking animals in the Bible, we have numerous examples of talking animals throughout Jewish and non-Jewish folklore. Different versions of the following tale go back over a thousand years, with Jewish versions found throughout Medieval literature. This one is based on the telling of master storyteller, Peninnah Schram.

A young prince was walking in the palace garden early one morning. The prince was enjoying all of the beauty when suddenly, he saw on a low branch of a pomegranate tree the most exquisite bird he had ever seen. It was a small bird, bearing a crest of feathers that were a stunning rainbow of color.

"Ah," thought the prince, "this crest will surely make a perfect feather in my cap. I must have it!" Standing under the tree, the prince reached up quick as-lightning and grabbed the little bird, holding it in a fierce grasp.

The terrified bird began to speak. "Please don’t kill me, gentle Prince. If you let me live, I can give you something more useful and enduring than a feather. As a wisdom bird, I have been gifted to know seventy languages and wise counsels that have been passed along for generations. I can teach you something that you can use for the rest of your life, but only if you will set me free."

The prince, hearing this, did not reply, “A talking bird?!” because it’s a story. Instead, he replied, "Very well, my handsome little bird. I am curious enough to heed you." And the prince relaxed his grip on the captive bird. "Teach me your secrets first, wise one, then I will set you free."

"Listen well," said the bird, "for here are three rules of conduct that will be a good guide throughout your life. Guard them, and they will serve you well.

The first one is, "Never regret what you have done."

The second one is, "Do not seek what is unattainable."

The third rule is. "Do not believe what is impossible to believe."

"Remember them well, and you will thank me for these words. They are more precious than treasure."

The prince released the bird as he had promised. But no sooner had the bird flown to a high branch of a nearby tree, when it sang out, "Fool of the world that you are, my prince! You let me go free, but you have no idea what you lost by doing so! But now it is too late!"

Confused, the prince shouted, "What do you mean, lost? Explain yourself!"

"Why my prince, if you had killed me as you would have found a large pearl, as big as an ostrich egg, inside me.”

Regretting that he had released the bird, the prince tried to coax the bird back with promises of fruit and nuts, but to no avail.

"Oh no, my prince," said the bird. "Have you forgotten my sage advice already?”

With a burst of anger, the prince began to climb up the tree as the bird flew to a still higher branch. Suddenly, as the prince climbed higher, he painfully fell to the ground.

The bird flew closer and again called out sadly, "Dear prince, I taught you not to regret, not to seek what is unattainable, and not to believe what is impossible. Is it possible for a pearl the size of an ostrich egg to fit in my tiny body, which fits in the palm of your hand? So next time my prince, heed well the lessons I have taught you." And with that, the wisdom bird flew off.

It a wonderful story that focuses on a truth that touches us all far too often. We can have all the wisdom and wise sayings in the world and we do. Teachings from Torah and our rabbis and many other great teachings are literally on our fingertips. All we have to do is heed them.

Shabbat Shalom!