White-tailed Kite : Splendor

This is a White-tailed Kite. I spent over an hour marveling at his morning hunt. It was absolutely balletic the way he could seemingly float in the air - “kiting” it’s called - perfectly adjusting his wings against the strength of the breeze to maintain position. And after several unsuccessful forays, I watched him return to his perch rewarded for his efforts. This bird is undeniably beautiful; he is majestic in his bearing; and truth be told, there is something fearsome about him as well. The modern definition of Splendor.

We are counting the third week of the Omer and have just read Parsha Shemini. Of the Omer, the Kabbalists teach that Week 3 represents Tiferet or Splendor. They define Splendor as Kindness (Week 1) plus Judgment (Week 2). Meanwhile, Shemini’s defining moment, an excruciating moment, is the execution of Aaron’s two sons for improper service. Tanakh, too, juxtaposes the Redemption from Egypt, the acme of Kindness, with this dread example of Judgment from Shemini. Our Tradition’s definition of Splendor.

So nu? Are we the children of our loving Father, Avinu? Or the willing subjects of our magisterial King, Malkeinu? The answer unsurprisingly is “both.” Tiferet and Shemini both come to teach that the Infinite’s love must be channeled for us, its finite recipients. HaShem’s Splendor is Kindness and Judgment: He accepts the Israelites’ sacrifices, and the awestruck people shout and fall on their faces. Splendor, then, is this whole admixture of love and appreciation, respect and fear. The Kite reminds us that Splendor is more than just beauty, and Tiferet assures us that HaShem’s all-encompassing Kindness wraps us in mercy.