In this week's parsha, Chukat, the children of Israel begin to complain. They ask, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt for there is no food and there is no water and our soul is disgusted with the insubstantial bread?" Subsequently, "G-d sent the fiery serpents against the people and they bit the people. A large multitude of Israel died." Bamidbar (21:5-6).
Bnei Yisrael then tell Moshe they have sinned and ask Moshe to pray on their behalf. Moshe is told, "Make a seraph figure and mount it on a standard. And if anyone who is bitten looks at it, he shall recover (Bamidbar 21: 8). Moshe constructs a copper serpent and those who stared at it were cured.
The mishnah comments, "Could it be that the snake kills or the snake revives? Rather, when Israel gaze upwards and subjugated their hearts to their Father in Heaven they would be healed, and if not, they would waste away."
(Mishnah Rosh HaShana 3:8)
(Mishnah Rosh HaShana 3:8)
Moments after reading a dvar torah about the copper snake, I came upon an article that was published in the New York Post (July 1 2009) entitled "SI Woman Finds Python in Driveway."
"Cops found themselves in hot pursuit of a truly reptilian perp today when they chased a 10-foot snake across a Staten Island yard.
Called to the home of John and Karen Trapani in Great Kills around 9 a.m., officers found the snake in the couple's driveway.
"It was startling, because we never got to see something like this before -- weird but true," John Trapani said.
As officers tried to corral the 10-foot long albino python, it slithered off and tried to escape beneath a fence into a neighbor's yard.
One of Trapani's friends grabbed its tail and brought it back to the driveway, where cops used sticks to corral the 5-year-old critter into a cage.
Police weren't sure how the snake got onto the Trapanis' property at 147 Sampson Ave. Pythons are not native to the area, and it's illegal to own them in New York."
Called to the home of John and Karen Trapani in Great Kills around 9 a.m., officers found the snake in the couple's driveway.
"It was startling, because we never got to see something like this before -- weird but true," John Trapani said.
As officers tried to corral the 10-foot long albino python, it slithered off and tried to escape beneath a fence into a neighbor's yard.
One of Trapani's friends grabbed its tail and brought it back to the driveway, where cops used sticks to corral the 5-year-old critter into a cage.
Police weren't sure how the snake got onto the Trapanis' property at 147 Sampson Ave. Pythons are not native to the area, and it's illegal to own them in New York."
To read full article, click here.
What a coincidence!!!! The week the Torah portion teaches us an important lesson through the copper snake, a python makes the headlines. Or, perhaps it's not a coincidence. Maybe we should remember the lesson from the snake in this week's parsha. When we look to the heavens, and we subjugate ourselves to G-d, we realize that He is the one who ultimately heals and delivers us from all ills.
UNBELIEVABLE UPDATE:
The New York Daily News published the following article entitled "Family's pet Burmese python strangles 2 year-old Florida girl." on July 1, 2009, the same day that the New York Post published an article about a different python.
"A 12-foot pet Burmese python broke out of an aquarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her bedroom Wednesday at a central Florida home, authorities said.
Shaunnia Hare was already dead when paramedics arrived at about 10 a.m....."
Shaunnia Hare was already dead when paramedics arrived at about 10 a.m....."
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