Rise Like A Lion

The name for the IDF’s recent defensive-battle against the Iranian Regime, Operation Rising Lion, comes from this week’s portion of Torah: “Like a lion will raise itself” (Num. 23:24). The Lion is known for its might. But it also finds a curious, non-violent setting in our sacred texts. 

Judaism’s most prominent Code of Law begins with these words: “A person should rise up each morning like a lion in order to serve their creator” (Shulchan Aruch 1:1). Here, the lion symbolizes enthusiasm, fervor, and fresh-fed purpose. 

Why begin the Code, and any given morning for that matter, with the image of a rising lion? Perhaps the answer relates to the Tribe of Judah, for which Judaism is named. Jacob’s blessing of Judah includes the words: “He bows and couches like a lion, who can raise him up” (Gen. 49:9). Here, the lion is drowsy. Sort of like the lion at a zoo, yawning, rolling over, and falling back asleep. 

This morning, I came across a new understanding of the lion (Seforno). The lion, as the king of beasts, decides when to wake up. Other animals, to keep from becoming prey, must rise and stay alert for predators. Only the lion can choose when to rise. So rising like a lion can relate to our free will, our capacity for choice, our sovereignty over our own inner-battles. Maybe rising as a lion, then, is about your capacity to command your own time and to fuel your own commitments. Also, how you rise. Rising dignity and poise makes a huge difference.

Here’s a concrete example. My inbox this week had a message with the subject line: good news. It came from Deb, a parent in our community, who’d written to the manager of her local Famers Market to express concern over an alarming new vendor, “Allston-Brighton for Palestine”. The manager took her concern seriously and responded very agreeably, affirming the common-values of the Market, disallowing that vendor’s participation going forward. 

In response to my request to share her story, Deb wrote, “Absolutely, we have to speak up, and not assume we will be rejected.” Another great learner in our community added, “Instead of overthinking things, we should just express how we’ve been made to feel.”

Yes, how others will respond is uncertain. There are more than enough disappointing stories. And even more infuriating ones. But rising like a lion is about your choice. And speaking up is a really good way to give somebody else their choice of response too.