Check out our site: 
www.thejewishworldofwonderskidsmagazine.com 

Exploring thE Wild World of AnimAls is prEsEntEd By:

T

he lion is one of the largest, strongest, and most powerful 
felines in the world. they are unique among felines 
in a number of ways; however, the biggest difference 
between lions and other big cats is that only lions live together 
in family groups, which are known as prides. A pride is made 
up of five to fifteen related females and their cubs, along with 
a single male (although small groups of two or three lions are 
not uncommon). 
despite their enormous size, male lions hardly do any of the 
hunting, as they are often slower and more easily seen than 
their female counterparts. The lionesses in the pride do the 
hunting, usually together. 
Lions have a short coat of tawny or golden fur, with a long tail 
that has a tuft of longer fur at the end. The markings on their 
coats are much fainter than the bold stripes and spots displayed 
on other felines, which helps the lions go unseen when stalking 
prey in the tall grasses. male lions are taller and heavier than 
the females and have a mane of long hair around their faces 
(in fact, it is the only case in the feline world where males and 
females actually look different). 

Efraim Harari

Torah Traits

Be as strong as the lion to do the will of your Father in 
Heaven (Avos 5:20).
Initially, this teaching may seem rather strange. How can 
there be any comparison between the lion, which can be 
cruel and ferocious, and the will of Hashem, Who is kind and 
merciful? However, the Hebrew word for strong, gibor, does 
not refer to the exceptional physical strength of the lion, but 
to the ability with which Hashem has endowed it to curb its 
passions. This is in the spirit of the teachings of Ben Zoma: Who 
is mighty (gibor)? He who subdues his passions (Avos 4:1). 
A story is recorded in the Gemara about the lion. Rabbi 
Shimon ben Chalafta was walking on the road when lions met 
him and roared at him. Rabbi Shimon responded by quoting 
the verse, The young lions roar after their prey and seek their 
food from Hashem (Tehillim 104:21). Immediately, two lumps 
of flesh descended from Heaven, whereupon the lions ate one 
and left the other (Sanhedrin 59b). We see again how lions can 
curb their appetites and subdue their passions. It is in this spirit 
that the lion is called the king of the beasts (Chagigah 13b). 
 
It has earned this title because it can govern its passions.

Q: What does the mother lion say to her cubs 
 before they go out hunting for food? 

A 
: “Let us prey!”

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 Lion

Did You 
Know?

When lions walk, 
their heels don’t 
touch the ground!

Check out our site: 
www.thejewishworldofwonderskidsmagazine.com 

Exploring thE Wild World of AnimAls is prEsEntEd By:

T

he lion is one of the largest, strongest, and most powerful 
felines in the world. they are unique among felines 
in a number of ways; however, the biggest difference 
between lions and other big cats is that only lions live together 
in family groups, which are known as prides. A pride is made 
up of five to fifteen related females and their cubs, along with 
a single male (although small groups of two or three lions are 
not uncommon). 
despite their enormous size, male lions hardly do any of the 
hunting, as they are often slower and more easily seen than 
their female counterparts. The lionesses in the pride do the 
hunting, usually together. 
Lions have a short coat of tawny or golden fur, with a long tail 
that has a tuft of longer fur at the end. The markings on their 
coats are much fainter than the bold stripes and spots displayed 
on other felines, which helps the lions go unseen when stalking 
prey in the tall grasses. male lions are taller and heavier than 
the females and have a mane of long hair around their faces 
(in fact, it is the only case in the feline world where males and 
females actually look different). 

Efraim Harari

Torah Traits

Be as strong as the lion to do the will of your Father in 
Heaven (Avos 5:20).
Initially, this teaching may seem rather strange. How can 
there be any comparison between the lion, which can be 
cruel and ferocious, and the will of Hashem, Who is kind and 
merciful? However, the Hebrew word for strong, gibor, does 
not refer to the exceptional physical strength of the lion, but 
to the ability with which Hashem has endowed it to curb its 
passions. This is in the spirit of the teachings of Ben Zoma: Who 
is mighty (gibor)? He who subdues his passions (Avos 4:1). 
A story is recorded in the Gemara about the lion. Rabbi 
Shimon ben Chalafta was walking on the road when lions met 
him and roared at him. Rabbi Shimon responded by quoting 
the verse, The young lions roar after their prey and seek their 
food from Hashem (Tehillim 104:21). Immediately, two lumps 
of flesh descended from Heaven, whereupon the lions ate one 
and left the other (Sanhedrin 59b). We see again how lions can 
curb their appetites and subdue their passions. It is in this spirit 
that the lion is called the king of the beasts (Chagigah 13b). 
 
It has earned this title because it can govern its passions.

Q: What does the mother lion say to her cubs 
 before they go out hunting for food? 

A 
: “Let us prey!”

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 Lion

Did You 
Know?

When lions walk, 
their heels don’t 
touch the ground!

46 | AUGUST 1 • 2024 

JUST FOR KIDS