Page 149 - BERESHIT

the fate of his spouse. He did not want to die and have his spouse
degenerate by mating with another species. Noach sent the dove instead.
Kenesset Yisrael is compared to a dove. The very term Kenesset Yisrael
means ‘the gathering together of Israel’ and their identification with each
other, resembles the trait of the dove. This was Noach’s way of showing
the power of unity to all future generations.

Hashem sent Eliyahu food with the ravens, in order to show him the
mutual cooperation and unity amongst Am Yisrael. This was also a veiled
hint for Eliyahu to acknowledge their good qualities and desist from acting
as their prosecutor.

Despite the wickedness of Achav and his influence over the people, they

would constantly win wars and defeat their enemies. This is attributed to

the unity and harmony between the Jews. Yet, Eliyahu could not bring

himself to tolerate their idolatrous backsliding. He was thus removed from

his position as their Navi. Eliyahu’s rectification is to be present at every

brit milah, even one where the father has abandoned his religious

observance. He can now give a good report on the Jews and their

insistence on performing the mitzvah of brit milah. We can take a lesson

from the raven and learn about and the importance of unity in the

eyes of Hashem.

“And he sent the raven out and it went back and
forth until the water dried up from the land”

(Bereishit 8:7)