Noach: The Raven and the Dove: A Lesson in Healing from Tragedy
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
In the story of Noach and the flood, there is a profound lesson about how we respond to and heal from tragedy. As the flood waters began to recede and Noach's ark settled, he sent out two different birds to search for signs of habitable land. This sequence of events offers profound insights into the stages of recovery from personal and collective trauma.
First, Noach sent out a raven. The Torah tells us that the raven went back and forth, repeatedly returning to the ark until the land was dry. This attempt was unsuccessful in providing the confirmation Noah sought. He then sent out a dove, which initially returned with an olive branch and later settled on dry land, signaling that the earth was once again habitable. This allowed Noah and his family to finally leave the ark.
Why did Noah need to send two different birds? Why did the raven experiment fail, necessitating the use of a dove? The answer lies in understanding the two distinct stages of responding to tragedy.
When disaster strikes—whether it's a personal setback, a physical injury, or a collective trauma—our initial response often mirrors the nature of the raven. Just as a physical wound forms tough scar tissue for protection, people who experience trauma typically develop a more rigid exterior. Those who begin life with innocence and optimism may emerge from tragedy more cynical and guarded. We see this pattern in many survivors of profound historical traumas, such as those who lived through Soviet Russia or the Holocaust. This toughening is a necessary first stage in responding to tragedy.
However, the raven's continued return to the ark represents being stuck in this initial response. The raven, with its dark coloring and reputation as an ominous harbinger, symbolizes this stern, defensive reaction to trauma. While this response is necessary, it remains incomplete. It represents meeting darkness with darkness, rather than transcending it.
The ultimate goal is to move beyond the darkness entirely and reclaim our light, innocence, and positivity. This is where the dove comes in. The dove—a symbol of peace, light, and kindness—represents the second and final stage of healing. To truly rebuild our lives after tragedy, we must evolve from being victims to becoming ambassadors of light. We must move beyond simply calling out injustice to actively introducing fresh light into the world.
A powerful illustration of this principle can be found in the story of Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor who initially lost faith in humanity and God. When he met with the Rebbe, who encouraged him to rebuild his life and start a family, Wiesel was resistant. The Rebbe blessed him and encouraged him to trust that life could be good again, even sending flowers for his wedding. This transformation from darkness to light exemplifies the journey from the raven to the dove.
This lesson is particularly relevant to the Jewish people today. In times of tragedy, we must first respond like the raven—strong and unflinching in calling out evil and working to eradicate it. However, we must remember that this is not our ultimate definition. The Jewish people are defined not by their opposition to evil but by their bringing of goodness to the world.
In Jewish thought, there are two phases of dealing with darkness. The first is called "kefiah" (subjugation)—acknowledging and subduing the darkness. The second phase is transforming that darkness into light. Both stages are necessary in our individual lives and in our collective experience as a people.
May we witness the ultimate light, even before the raven's mission is complete, with the coming of the Moshiach and the immediate healing of both our collective and individual wounds.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha”