The Forest, The Flower and the First Sign of Spring - Poem/Short Story
The following poem, is based on a story that involved the great Rav Mordechai Gifter zt''l, the Rosh Hayeshivah of Telz in Cleveland, Ohio. I will tell over the story here and then will have the poem following it.
Rav Gifter used to take daily walks around the campus and hills near to his yeshivah and many times would be accompanied by some of his students, who would walk with him to hear his Torah thoughts and insights. On one of his walks with a student called Moishe, they walked through a forest. It was at the end of winter, and snow was still covering the pathways around them. Suddenly Rav Gifter stopped and pointed to a flower that had emerged from underneath the snow.
"Look Moishe!" He exclaimed. Moishe looked down to where his rebbi was pointing and noticed the flower too. When he looked up however he was shocked to find his rebbi crying. Puzzled, the boy wondered, "Why had a small little flower triggered such an emotional reaction from Rav Gifter?" He asked and was given an answer worth remembering.
"You see, Moishe, very soon will come spring and the forest will be surrounded in greenery. No one will remember the small flower, because the forest will be so plentiful in nature. The same is true with redemption. When Moshiach comes the winters of our life will turn to a joyous spring and exile will be a distant dream. No one will remember it."
Rav Gifter began sobbing again, harder as he asked sincerely, "But Moishe, where is the flower of redemption? Where is the flower?"
I now present to you the poem based on this beautiful story. I hope you have taken something special out if this story.
Yitzy Schweitzer
Rav Gifter used to take daily walks around the campus and hills near to his yeshivah and many times would be accompanied by some of his students, who would walk with him to hear his Torah thoughts and insights. On one of his walks with a student called Moishe, they walked through a forest. It was at the end of winter, and snow was still covering the pathways around them. Suddenly Rav Gifter stopped and pointed to a flower that had emerged from underneath the snow.
"Look Moishe!" He exclaimed. Moishe looked down to where his rebbi was pointing and noticed the flower too. When he looked up however he was shocked to find his rebbi crying. Puzzled, the boy wondered, "Why had a small little flower triggered such an emotional reaction from Rav Gifter?" He asked and was given an answer worth remembering.
"You see, Moishe, very soon will come spring and the forest will be surrounded in greenery. No one will remember the small flower, because the forest will be so plentiful in nature. The same is true with redemption. When Moshiach comes the winters of our life will turn to a joyous spring and exile will be a distant dream. No one will remember it."
Rav Gifter began sobbing again, harder as he asked sincerely, "But Moishe, where is the flower of redemption? Where is the flower?"
I now present to you the poem based on this beautiful story. I hope you have taken something special out if this story.
Yitzy Schweitzer
The Forest, The Flowr and the First Sign of Spring - Poem
Walking in the forest,
Winter final breeze is in the air,
On the pathways beside me,
Snow still remains.
Suddenly I notice,
A flower bud.
It has fought its way to the surface,
It has emerged, the first sign of spring,
A sign of sunshine galore.
In a couple of weeks,
Snow-covered pathways,
Will be that of greenery.
Lushes grass, colourful flowers,
A planet called nature.
But who will remember,
The flower… that showed,
The first sign of spring?
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