Community Magazine October 2019

TISHREI 5780 OCTOBER 2019 97 Efraim Harari Connection Finally, the waters began to lessen. Noach sent out a dove from the tevah to see if there was any sign of dry land, as it says, “Then he [Noach] sent out the dove from him, to see whether the waters had subsided…” (Beresheet 8:8). But water still covered the surface of the earth, so the dove returned to the tevah. Noach waited another seven days and then sent out the dove again. This time, the pasuk says, was different: "And the dove returned to him at evening time, and behold, an olive leaf was grasped in its mouth." (ibid. 8:11). When the dove brought back the olive leaf to Noach and his family, the message conveyed was very sharp and clear: An entire world had just been destroyed, true – but now, there would be a new start, a second chance. The Radak comments that the dove has a natural gift for carrying or bringing back messages. We can see how this trait has been documented throughout history, as carrier pigeons are known to be excellent couriers, dispatching messages over long distances with amazing exactness. Available Online and at All Judaica Stores! The Latest Book by The Jewish World of Wonders Fascinating Questions & Answers on the Mysteries of the Animal Kingdom Can be ordered online at: www.israelbookshoppublications.com and Amazon. Although scientists are unable to fully understand how homing pigeons navigate their way home across long distances with such astounding accuracy, there are several theories. It is believed that homing pigeons have both compass and map mechanisms that help them navigate. The compass mechanism helps them fly in the correct direction, while the map mechanism enables them to compare where they are to where they want to go (home). The pigeon’s compass mechanism likely relies upon the sun. Like many birds, homing pigeons can use the position and angle of the sun to determine the proper direction for their flight. In regard to the map mechanism, some scientists believe that homing pigeons use magnetoreception , which involves relying on Earth's magnetic fields for guidance. Homing pigeons have concentrations of iron particles in their beaks, which scientists believe enable them to detect magnetic fields. More recent research, however, suggests that homing pigeons may instead rely upon low-frequency sound waves to find their way home. These waves, which human ears cannot hear but birds can, emanate from the Earth itself: from the oceans, through the Earth’s crust, and even in the atmosphere. The theory is that pigeons use these sound waves to generate acoustic maps of their surroundings, and that's how they find their way home even when they are released miles away. How Homing Pigeons Find Their Way Home