Community Magazine May 2019

92 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Exploring the Mysteries of the Animal Kingdom Torah Moshe was shepherding the sheep of his father-in-law Yitro, a priest of Midian...and he arrived at the Mountain of Hashem. ( Shemot 3:1) The Be'er Yosef brings a midrash (Shemot Rabbah 2:2) which points out the fact that many great figures in Tanach started out as shepherds. The midrash says, Hashem does not bestow greatness upon a person without first testing him regarding small things. For example, Moshe began his “training” by tending to sheep, and only after Hashem saw how devoted and caring Moshe was to his flock, did He make him the leader of Klal Yisrael. As a shepherd, Moshe showed concern for every little sheep. The midrash (ibid.) tells us that once, a sheep in Moshe’s flock ran away. A sheep will become very upset if it is separated from the rest of its flock. Sheep are timid creatures that tend to graze in large flocks. Unlike other animals, sheep do not have a means to protect themselves, and are defenseless against predators. Sheep are unable to fight back, and they are not fast enough to run away from predators such as wolves or coyotes. Without a shepherd to protect them, they’d be attacked and eaten one by one. Sheep are also prone to wander. If a shepherd doesn’t manage them, they can wander off into unsafe territories. When one sheep moves, the rest usually follow, even if it is not a good idea. The flocking and following instinct of sheep is so strong that it caused the death of four hundred sheep in 2006 in eastern Turkey. The sheep all plunged to their death after one of the sheep tried to cross a fifty-foot-deep ravine, and the rest of the flock followed. The shepherd’s responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock. The shepherd will lead the animals to a good grazing area, and as the sheep eat up whatever plant-life is there, the shepherd will move the sheep to another area, always ensuring that they have enough food and water. Why Do Sheep Need a Shepherd? Don , t Forget About Me!