Ah . . . life of a three year-old!
The other day, the little terrorist was walking around carrying a two-liter water bottle, calling it his "teel" (missile). Wherever he went, he demanded that it come with him. Even when we put him to bed, he went, lovingly caressing his "teel." Is this how North Korean dictators start out in life?
“But the dove could not find a resting place for the sole of its foot, and it returned to him to the Ark (in Hebrew: El HaTeivah)” (Bereishis 8:9).
I saw from Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein a wonder piece of insight on this pasuk.
“But the dove could not find a resting place for the sole of its foot” – In the period shortly before the arrival of Moshiach, the Jewish people, who are compared to a dove, will not find a resting place.
“And it returned to him to the Ark” – The Gemara (Sanhedrin 97b) writes, “All the time limits have been reached; the matter depends on nothing but repentance.” The words “[a]nd it returned to him” hint that the Jewish people will do teshuva. How? “El HaTeiva,” which not only means “to the ark,” but also means “to the word,” referring to prayer. The Jewish people will pray properly and be careful to pronounce each word (“teiva”) correctly.
“For water was upon the surface of all the earth” – This is a reference to the “mayim hazeidonim,” or the harsh decrees imposed on Israel. “Upon the surface of all the earth,” that is, in all the four corners of the globe.
“So he put forth his hand, and took it (the dove)” – Hashem extends His hand to accept the teshuva of the Jewish people.
“And brought it to him” – Hashem shelters us beneath His wings and brings salvation.
“To the Ark” – This will come about through His receiving our prayers and our teshuva before the Throne of Glory.
With the increase of anti-Semitism throughout the "modern" world, such as in the United States on college campuses, or in the United Kingdom where a known anti-Semite/terror supporter stands a good chance of becoming the Prime Minister, things like this are appropriate to remember. Our salvation will not come through the acts of our hands, but only through sincere prayer and teshuva.
Have a great Shabbos!
Michael Winner