My Encounter with the Deer

One early morning last week, on my way to Chabad for Shacharit services, I witnessed a scene for the first time in my thirty years in town. Three deer were crossing the street just ahead of me.

The Baal Shem Tov teaches that one must learn a lesson in the service of G-d from every experience and encounter in life. This includes gleaning life lessons from animals as well. Every element of creation plays an integral role in shaping our perspective of life and its purpose.

In the case of the deer, I did not need to look very far for inspiration. The sages in Pirkei Avot teach that one must be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and strong as a lion to serve G-d. In fact, the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish law applies this teaching to the way a Jew must perceive the idea of rising early in the morning, regardless of the challenges involved.

Each one of the above mentioned character traits expressed by the respective animals may have negative connotations as well. The obvious intention of our sages is that one must filter these concepts and to apply only the positive ideas within every creation.

The boldness of a leopard is not to give license to be insulting and ungracious, rather the boldness must be focused inward. Despite the fact that one may feel intimidated by scoffers to weaken his or her commitment to the observance of a mitzvah – the leopard inspires us to bravely disregard such feelings and remain committed to the truth.

To be swift as a deer is not to disregard the importance of thoroughness and caution, rather the intent is that when inspired to do the right thing – allow the thought to be swiftly translated into action. If you wake up in the mood of studying an extra page of Torah – do it right away. Inspired to wrap tefilin? Don’t push it off. When the bank account shows some extra income this month? Don’t procrastinate with the tzedaka!

There is a cute saying in Israel. You got the urge to work? Wait a few minutes for it to pass.

The deer teaches us the importance of being swift in our Judaism. While study, understanding and meditation is important, it cannot slow down the Jewish action. There is much to be accomplished and people that need to be helped. Each and every one of us is allocated a certain amount of time to do it all – and failure is not an option.

Remember – you snooze you lose.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Yisrael Greenberg