1986-1987 Rothberg Yearbook

The Bird
I saw a bird today fly carelessly over the Jordan Valley. It made me think, “How good it
would be to fly God’s merciful winds, to be totally carefree and independent.” The bird
disappeared intermittently into a thick blanket of mist that hung, like some Arabic
shroud, over the valley. The majestic mountains of Edom stood proud and erect in the
distance, highlighted by an orange effervescence caused by the setting sun behind them.
The bird flew over the barbed wire that separated Israel proper and the occupied
territories and finally perched itself on an olive branch scenically overlooking the Old
City of Jerusalem.
As I walked by, I wondered who, indeed, is more aware of life and living. The bird soars
over our festering world oblivious to its torments while man is bound to the Earth and
our society; bound by chains he can’t or won’t realise Few bother to look outside the
moranl parameters that society has imposed upon them.
The bird allowed me to escape, for a few moments, our bonds. I flew along side, not
noticing the barbed wire and war cemeteries I sailed where the winds blew me; I felt
pure and free. I lived like the bird I saw today, if only for a few precious moments
by DJl