64 | MARCH 28 • 2024 

JUST FOR KIDS

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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