64 | MARCH 28 • 2024
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G
azelles are medium-sized antelopes found in Africa and
Asia. They are noted for their graceful stride as well as for
their beauty. The gazelle has large black eyes, a variety of
stripes and markings that complement their tan-buff coats, and
beautiful ringed horns.
The coloration of gazelles, as well as the open areas in which they
live, make them very conspicuous. Their horns offer no protection
against large predators, and so they rely upon their great speed and
agility to avoid capture. Besides being able to run as fast as 50 miles
an hour, gazelles also have great leaping abilities.
Unique Traits
Unique Traits
One of the most unique characteristics of the gazelle is its ability
to live in hot and mostly dry environments without having the
availability of surface water. As a matter of fact, some gazelles live
their entire lives without ever taking a drink of water!
One way a gazelle is able to
obtain water without having to
drink is from the food it eats.
The consumption of plants
provides the gazelle with a very
good source of moisture. The
gazelle is efficient about the
water it takes in via its food;
it eats plants early in the
morning or during the night,
when the heat is not so oppressive. During these cooler parts of the
day, the water content of plants is at its highest.
In addition, the gazelle’s sleek coat is especially designed to help
keep it cool. Their light-colored coat reflects the sunlight, while
their white underbelly deflects away the heat that radiates upward
from the ground.
EFRAIM HARARI
Torah Talk
Torah Talk
Naftali is a messenger gazelle who delivers
beautiful sayings (Bereishis 49:21).
This was said as a blessing to Naftali by his
father Yaakov Avinu. Naftali was blessed with
the special character traits of the gazelle: speed,
charm and grace. To better appreciate Naftali’s
brachah, let us first understand the pasuk’s
reference to “a messenger gazelle.”
The Ramban brings down the Yerushalmi
(Shevi’is 9:2), that says that in ancient times,
rulers used to send gazelles as message carriers
to one another. They trained their gazelles in
the following manner: The gazelles that were
born and raised in the south would be sent
north, and the gazelles born and raised in the
north would be sent south. Then, when a king
from the north needed to send an important
message to a king in the south (or vice versa),
he would tie a note onto the horn of the
gazelle and let it loose. The gazelle would run
speedily, directly to its birthplace, and in this
way the other king would receive the message
directed to him. Thus, the gazelle would be the
“messenger” of many “sayings.”
The animal kingdom is full of such great
variety, design and complexity that it can’t
help but testify to a Creator. This week
we explore...
The Gazelle
The Gazelle
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