White-winged Dove : The Glory at Hand

This is a White-winged Dove. When seen up close like this, detailing the delicate fibers of each feather and the multicolored glory of its eye, it’s easy to imagine how Noah would have selected this bird to go seek out land. This Dove is a standout when seen up close. It’s the intimacy of the perch, the casual, comfortable familiarity that creates the feeling of connection in this photo. I took this photo in my own backyard; I didn’t have to trek somewhere “special” to encounter this beauty.

The Sages teach that in post-Temple times, our own dining tables serve as holy altars. When we sit down for a meal, ideally surrounded by friends and family, we have the opportunity to make an offering to HaShem. Our prayers of thanks and appreciation reflect our awareness of the Source of all goodness. Eating together is the ultimately intimate experience, as the food we share literally becomes part of us. This integral connection, between our most physical necessity and our most spiritual extension, creates a sense of completed wholeness that is the essence of Shabat’s shalom.

The altar in our homes is a profoundly powerful teaching. Because even as we acknowledge - and mourn - the destruction of the Temple, we transcend the loss and create an even closer relationship between HaShem and Am Yisrael. It is easy to see the monumental in our world. We (fittingly) fantasize about exotic destinations and bucket list experiences. But we shouldn’t overlook the inherent worth and beauty of our opportunities closer in. We all have an altar in homes, and there is glory like this Dove, waiting for us in our own backyards.