Cecil the Lion – in Zimbabwe and Jerusalem

Rabbi Asher Deren

The Shul of Blouberg – West Coast

“What?! – How can you say that?!”

So wait a second. Firstly, let me be clear that sport hunting is possibly the most despicable form of human recreation, and is arguably immoral if not outright forbidden. Just this week I was listening to a talk from the Rebbe where in an almost cracking voice he asked how a human being can take pleasure in the senseless killing of a defenceless animal. If he could, would he also take pleasure in killing human beings?

That said, can we be honest here? Cecil the Lion was a killer. So why is everyone, myself included, saddened by the ruthless killing of a ruthless killer?

Perhaps it’s because Cecil the Lion was a (majestic) creature of G-d-given instinct. Cecil John Rhodes, Walter Palmer, Yishai Shlissel and the rest of us are (potentially majestic) creatures of G-d-given conscience and purpose.

When a lion follows his instinct he’s a majestic reflection of G-d. When a human follows his/herinstinct (ignoring conscience and purpose) they’re a tragic desecration of that reflection of G-d. 

And perhaps that’s why the lion is the symbol of Jerusalem – because a lion could and should inspire our greatness, in the greatest city on earth.

Last week in Jerusalem we saw a human being, a fellow Jew, act like a wild lion. Not with strength of character but with heartless instinct of grossly distorted values. How someone, ostensibly religious or otherwise, can take a knife and stab other people is beyond my imagination. To do so in the name of G-d is despicable.

The tragic passing on Sunday of 16-year-old Shira Banki, has left a deep scar, not only in the hearts of her grieving parents, but the entire nation who witnessed the horrific act. As a collective family we carry individual responsibility for it – and to repair it.  

Right after Tisha B’Av, the 9^th day of Av, we celebrate the greatest holiday on the Jewish calendar – and you didn’t even know it existed.

Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem because of Jewish infighting. But right after mourning on Tisha B’Av we marked the holiday of the 15^th of Av – www.TheShul.co.za/15Av which was traditionally celebrated with “the maidens of Jerusalem dancing” in unity.

If the 9^th of Av reminds us of the dangers in attacking one another, the 15^th of Av highlights the critical power in embracing one another.

While in the past the message of the 15^th of Av may have been a hidden holiday, today, yes today, it is of vital importance – every day of the year.

Let that Cecil within us be one of a human being, “rising like a lion” as the first halacha in Jewish law teaches us, to serve Hashem, and His creations – human, animal, and even the leaves on His trees – with strength, with joy and with love – in a Jerusalem of unity rebuilt by the ultimate Lion, our righteous Moshiach.