Shavuot 2019

Back to Day 49 of the Omer

Thank you for counting with us! As we prepare to celebrate Shavuot by eating too much ice cream and studying well into the night, we hope that our animal Omer entertained you, taught you something about animals that you didn't know before, and also helped you discover something new about yourself. Whether you want to try to become more patient, fight against inequality, work on collaborating better with friends and coworkers, or start a petition to make the turkey our national bird, we hope that the diversity of the natural world has inspired you to grow.

This year's animal Omer was a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us. See you next year!

Omer 2019 Day 49: Wildlife Conservation

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Omer 2019 Day 49: Malchut in Malchut, Leadership in Leadership

Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation is not something a person can just go out and do, like recycling or becoming a vegetarian. Of course doing things that are "earth conscious" helps, but the global leaders in conservation are the figureheads, lobbying organizations, policy-makers, scientists, and educators who bring awareness of wildlife issues to the public. More than just "neat," every species of animal (and plant) on this planet plays a vital role in its ecosystem, and in doing so makes our planet habitable. There's no telling what the future holds, but to be sure we would not be where we are today without the dedicated and brave people who put their necks on the line for animals who have no voice in our society. There are too many to list, but if you're interested in getting involved, start by researching organizations and finding one (or several) whose views align with your own, because to quote one of the most well known and influential conservationist text of our time:

"Unless someone cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -The Lorax, from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 48: Orcas

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Omer 2019 Day 48: Yesod in Malchut, Connection in Leadership

Orcas

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

In thinking about connection in leadership, one thing that comes to mind is play. There are many examples of play in the animal world, and for good reason: it teaches cooperation, competition, and communication in juveniles, and it helps build important life skills that they'll need in adulthood. Orcas are an interesting example of play because both the juveniles and adults have been known to "play with their food." To some, this may look cruel (I'm sure their prey think so), but this is how adults teach their young the best hunting strategies that their pod uses. Orcas have culture, in that groups occupying different regions of the ocean exhibit different feeding/hunting behaviors and even have different diets! Play, and instructive play, are how these animals pass along much needed information from generation to generation.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 47: Dolphins

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Omer 2019 Day 47: Hod in Malchut, Humility in Leadership
Dolphins

Image by Steven Leeuw from Pixabay

There's a lot we could say about dolphins. They're highly intelligent and playful, and serve as a significant keystone species in any ecosystem they inhabit. They were chosen as today's Omer animal because they demonstrate both glory and humility (however you want to translate) in leadership.

Dolphins execute elaborate and thoughtful cooperative hunting mechanisms that take into account the needs of other predatory species. One species of dolphin herds schools of sardines upward toward the surface of the ocean where sea birds can feast from above while the dolphins feast from below. Another species of dolphin works with other members of its pod to round up (literally) schools of fish by having one individual swim in a circle around the school while beating its tail against the silt on the bottom of the shallow water. Other dolphins then wait for the fish to jump over and out of this "net" and reap the rewards of collaborative hunting. Either way, both are glorious and humble in their approaches, traits that are essential in any good leader.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 46: Hyrax

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Omer 2019 Day 46: Netzach in Malchut, Endurance/Victory in Leadership
Hyrax

Image by Barbara Fraatz from Pixabay

There are certain kinds of mountain goats and musk oxen in which the males battle for females in treacherous terrain. With a somewhat humorous twist, rock hyrax (relatives of elephants and manatees with habitats in Israel and Africa) males will try to bump each other off cliffs with their tushies in competition for females. A hyrax colony consists of one dominant male and many females and their children. When male hyrax are old enough to leave their colonies, they hang out on the outskirts of other colonies until there is an opportunity to take it over. During mating season, the dominant male's testicles grow much larger than normal to indicate his dominance.

The rock hyrax is listed in Proverbs as one of four wise animals:

"Four are among the tiniest on earth, yet they are the wisest of the wise: Ants are a folk without power, yet they prepare food for themselves in summer; The badger [rock hyrax] is a folk without strength, yet it makes its home in the rock; the locusts have no king, yet they all march forth in formation; You can catch the lizard in your hand, yet it is found in royal palaces." Proverbs 30:24-28

So hyrax are funny, wise, able to defend themselves and their colonies from competitors, and, also, they are impressive singers. These sound like great leadership qualities to me!

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 45: Blue-Headed Wrasse

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Omer 2019 Day 45: Tiferet in Malchut, Beauty/Balance in Leadership
Blue-Headed Wrasse

The blue-headed wrasse is a beautiful saltwater fish that embodies balance in leadership. All individuals hatch as females and the largest, most dominant one changes from female to male to be the leader of the school. Whenever the male dies, another female will become a male to take his place.

To learn more, check out the Radiolab podcast, Gonads: X & Y

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 44: Lemmings

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Omer 2019 Day 44: Gevurah in Malchut, Bravery in Leadership
Lemmings
When you think of lemmings, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a moving carpet of rodents following each other blindly off a cliff and into the sea. However, this is a common misunderstanding of how these animals actually operate. While no one knows why, it is well documented that lemmings experience dramatic population swings ranging from highs that threaten their ecosystem due to overcrowding to lows that threaten the species with extinction. During thoe booms, lemmings do their best to spread out, and since they can swim, they might find themselves following a braver lemming into the sea in search of more resources. Lemmings can swim, and aren't half bad at it either, but if a lemming were to find itself in, say, the ocean...well, that might be a bit more than it could handle, this is the origin of this misconception.

Walt Disney's White Wilderness, which popularized the myth that lemmings jump off cliffs in a frenzied, unthinking mass suicide.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 43: Horses

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Omer 2019 Day 43: Chesed in Malchut, Loving-Kindness in Leadership
Horses
Whether domesticated or wild, horses are a good example of loving-kindness in leadership. Domestic horses are led by their riders or owners for work or leisure purposes, but as with most things, commands given with patience and loving-kindness often yield the most positive results. Wild horses exhibit this too in their own way. Horses live in large herds (when populations allow), and males lead their harems (groups of females) to the best grazing areas with the sweetest grass. They fight off other males with a fierce passion, and defend their territories with equal force. These are things we want in a leader - passion, kindness, care for those in your community.

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 42: Cheetahs (again)

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Omer 2019 Day 42: Malchut in Yesod, Leadership in Connection

Cheetahs (again)

Image by sharonjoy17 from Pixabay

Although we've already done cheetahs, male cheetahs in particular have a unique style of leadership. While technically they are still considered a "solitary" cat (the only truly social cat is the lion), male cheetahs will form coalitions with brothers or other solitary males nearby. As they establish their territory, they are believed to share and rotate the responsibility of maintaining and protecting their territory among themselves, and even split up mating rights with females nearby. They will also split up or share hunting responsibilities, sometimes working together to bring down a larger prey species, or will hunt and bring back food in sequence.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 41: Honeybees

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Omer 2019 Day 41: Yesod in Yesod, Foundation in Connection
Honeybees

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

Fun Erin fact: When I was little, maybe four or five, I made up a song about honeybees that my parents recorded (on VHS). I am sitting in my pajamas on the floor of our front room in December, waving my hand through the air with my thumb and forefinger pinched together, singing, "Buzz, buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Ouch! It stung me!"

Stinging aside, honeybees are an important part of our ecosystem. They pollinate plants to help them grow and make delicious honey for us to eat! Each bee has a role (queen, worker, or drone) and they work together to build and maintain their colony. Japanese honey bees have even developed a way to protect their colony against invasive Japanese giant hornets by surrounding the hornet in a massive ball of bees, overwhelming it with their own body heat until it dies.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 40: Flamingos

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Omer 2019 Day 40: Hod in Yesod, Glory in Connection

Pink Flamingos

Today is Pink Flamingo Day. Flamingos live in large groups, called a flamboyance, and I'm not sure how much more glorious you can get than a mass of large pink birds called a flamboyance.

Their flocks are made up of thousands of birds. Like starlings, flamingos find protection in numbers - when threatened, they all move in one fluid motion to find safety. The group also allows birds to mate - they do a series of group mating dances, and when they find a mate, they are monogamous and both parents care for their child.

Photo by zoosnow from Pexels

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 39: Naked Mole Rats

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Omer 2019 Day 39: Netzach in Yesod, Endurance in Connection

Naked Mole Rats

I was first introduced to naked mole rats through the Disney television show, Kim Possible, which featured a naked mole rat named Rufus as a pet/sidekick. Rufus was cuter than real-life naked mole rats, as is often the case with cartoon adaptations of animals. Still, naked mole rats are fascinating. Hairless and thin-skinned, naked mole rats cannot maintain their own body temperature; they huddle in their large family colonies to share body heat. Naked mole rats are the longest-living rodents in the world with a lifespan up to 30 years.

Can't get enough of the naked mole rat? Check out the Smithsonian National Zoo's Naked Mole Rat Cam!

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 38: Starlings

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Omer 2019 Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod, Beauty in Connection
Starlings

Starlings are not the most beloved bird. They were brought to America from Europe in the 1890s and now they are everywhere. This invasive species can crowd out native birds, and has been known to damage crops.

But we're going to overlook that today, because when they swarm together they create these incredible shapes that are beautiful to watch. Maybe you've seen a small group of them, or maybe you've seen a "murmuration" of thousands, but if you've ever see a flock of starlings swarm together around dusk, there's a good chance your gaze lingered for an extra moment.

They are not just dancing for our enjoyment; traveling in this large group (thousands of birds) provides the whole flock protection from predators, as they are all on alert for danger and twist and turn unpredictably.  Starlings are highly gregarious birds and there are several populations of them in the MD/DC/VA area that Halli has seen. They fly together with such close connection that when one bird changes direction for whatever reason, the birds next to it emulate its movements almost simultaneously, causing the entire group to move together and often looking like a single, massive, cloud-like organism in the sky. It's a beautiful and impressive sight to behold, and perfectly fits tonight's sephirot of beauty in connection.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 37: Capuchin Monkeys

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Omer 2019 Day 37: Gevurah in Yesod, Justice in Connection
Capuchin Monkeys

Capuchin monkeys and some other social animals have been found to dislike inequality. In a study of Capuchin monkeys, two monkeys were rewarded for completing a task with a piece of cucumber, which they both happily ate. Then, the researchers started to give one monkey grapes (which are better). The monkey that still received cucumbers for its work rejected the treat. In some cases, the monkey that received grapes also refused the grapes if it saw that its friend wasn't getting the same reward.

This behavior can be attributed to the monkey's collaborative nature - they often have to work together to get things done. To receive different payment for the same work would breed resentment that could hamper those important relationships.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 36: Unlikely Animal Friends

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Omer 2019 Day 36: Chesed in Yesod, Loving-Kindness in Connection
Unlikely Animal Friends

Halli never tires of watching new episodes of "Unlikely Animal Friends" on National Geographic. In this program, friends of all shapes and sizes - literally - are showcased not just for their uniqueness, but for the incredible bonds that they share.

In one case, a great dane cares for a fawn (baby deer) as if it were her own puppy, then after being nursed back to health and released the deer comes back regularly to frolic with her caregiver and friend. She even brings her own fawn back to meet the lovable hound. In another case, a blind horse and an old goat become friends at a rescue farm, and not only do these two pals do everything together, the goat actually leads the horse to the best place to graze and munch on fresh grass. You could say that the goat gets the best grass too by doing this, but you'd be wrong: the goat never deviates from his task of walking precisely in front of his equine friend, waits patiently (and without distraction) for the horse to be done eating, and then leads him right back to his stable when he's ready. There are countless other stories like this: an orangutan and his pet pointer (dog), a cheetah and his yellow lab friend, a giraffe and an ostrich, a dog and an owl, ducks, cats, chickens, lions, dolphins... the list goes on and on, and with each new episode that this show airs, I am continually left speechless by the connection and loving-kindness that these animals display toward each other. Whenever you think that we humans are alone in that one thing that makes us human, mother nature waits stealthily around the corner for the next opportunity to prove us wrong.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 35: African Wild Dogs

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Omer 2019 Day 35: Malchut in Hod, Leadership in Glory

African Wild Dogs

It should come as no surprise that today's sephirot are being represented by a member of the canine (dog) family. The African Wild Dog, also called the Painted Dog because of their beautiful and unique markings, live in large packs comprised of dozens of individuals that are the very definition of leadership and cooperation. The pack is dominated by a monogomous breeding pair (Halli would be happy to tell you more about how rare that actually is another time), and the female gives birth to up to 20 pups at a time. These pups are cared for cooperatively by other adults in the pack, and yet another cohort of adults are responsible for bringing home the brisket. The hunting strategies that these intelligent animals carry out successfully are truly glorious, and the leadership that is required for coordinating such complicated efforts is really incredible. And just think: they do it all without cell phones or walkie talkies!

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 34: Turtles

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Omer 2019 Day 34: Yesod in Hod, Foundation in Glory

International Turtle Day

Photo by laura parenti from Pexels

A few weeks ago, a very large turtle was spotted roaming around the parking lot outside my house. We live next to a golf course, so I have to imagine that the turtle lives in one of the ponds and wandered off the course. A couple of our neighbors spent their morning putting notes on car windshields to alert people to the turtle's presence, and by the end of the day, it had wandered away again.

Today is International Turtle Day and if you're wondering why they get their own day, let me tell you that turtles are amazing animals (and not just the teenage mutant ninja variety)! The first turtles can be dated back to the Mesozoic Era, 220 million years ago. Talk about an established foundation! Not only have turtles been around as a species for a long time, they have long lifespans too - some can live to be over 100 years old! Turtles are pretty glorious from the moment they're born. Female turtles lay eggs on land and leave them to gestate and hatch on their own; they do not watch their nest or come back to care for their little ones (the brown turtle, pictured above, is the exception to this rule). Once hatched, baby turtles are on their own, and they quickly learn how to feed and care for themselves.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 33: Cheetahs

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Omer 2019 Day 33 (Lag B'Omer): Hod in Hod, Glory in Humility
Cheetahs
We've all seen it: the heart-stopping video footage of a cheetah sprinting after an impala through the thick savanna shrubbery. The impala zigs and zags. The cheetah maneuvers effortlessly in its path. Her eyes are laser focused on her prey, her tail wildly counterbalances every turn she makes to keep her upright. The characteristic teardrop markings on her face make her immediately recognizable to kids and adults alike, almost all of whom are quick to remember that this remarkable cat is the earth's fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 75 miles per hour and accelerating to 60 miles per hour in 3 seconds and only 3 strides. A master of speed, the cheetah is certainly a glorious animal to behold.

But she is also a demonstration of humility. After expending all of her energy in her quest for dinner, she will almost always freely give it over to a larger, more intimidating predator who threatens to take it from her, for fear of being injured and ruining her livelihood (her athleticism). Despite being classified as a "big cat," cheetahs tend to be the most docile and least confrontational of the big cat species, and they seem to be well-aware that their slight stature makes them vulnerable to injury. Additionally, a cheetah will never use her talents for show. While we may daydream of what it must be like to be able to cross a football field in a matter of seconds, cheetahs do not actually travel at warp speed. It takes such a great deal of resources to be able to reach these top speeds and accelerations, that cheetahs will often err on the side of being highly discerning when it comes to using their speed as a tool, and will even relinquish an opportunity for a meal if it means conserving strength and resources for a hunt that is more likely to be successful. And, while it may not be a mark of humility, the cheetah's call does not exactly inspire one to think of "glory" in the same way a lion's roar might. Cheetahs are the only large cat that cannot roar, which is part of why they are scientifically categorized in a different genus (remember learning classifications in high school?) than lions, tigers, leopards, etc., who are classified in the genus Panthera. Cheetahs are an incredible demonstration of adaptive genius from head to toe, but they certainly could be described as having more humility than any other cat on the planet.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 32: Cuttlefish

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Omer 2019 Day 32: Netzach in Hod, Endurance/Victory in Humility
Cuttlefish (sneaker males)
Cuttlefish (which are just as cute as they sound) emerge victorious in mating competitions by being humble. As with many animals that compete for a female's choice, it is no surprise that the largest males with the most elaborate color displays are often chosen by females. And even if they aren't chosen, they will often exhibit a behavior called "mate guarding" which is exactly what it sounds like. The macho-est cuttlefish will keep a close eye on the females that he wants to court, and will run off any other males that try to stake their claim. Enter the "sneaker male." While the larger, obvious males are putting on a show (link), sneaker males are smaller, unassuming, and tend to look like females. They inch their way closer and closer, often without notice, until they're finally close enough to court and mate with the female - right under the larger male's... tentacles! Both endurance and humility (however you want to interpret "netzach") are key to this male's strategy to keep his genes circulating.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 31: Peacock

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Omer 2019 Day 31: Tiferet in Hod, Beauty in Humility
Peacocks

Photo by Ricardo Frantz on Unsplash

The peacock is a prime example of a bird that sacrifices safety for plumage. Their tails are huge, take a ton of energy to produce, and significantly hinder them from being able to flee predators. At first glance this seems more like arrogance, but in reality the males that invest in the "risk" of beauty also get the reward of siring offspring because females choose these males over duller, smaller males.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 30: Bald Eagle

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Omer 2019 Day 30: Gevurah in Hod, Strength in Glory/Humility

Bald Eagles

We like bald eagles because they look majestic, and they soar high, and their gaze is intense. They've become a symbol of strength, patriotism, and independence in our country.

However, they are not solely predators (they also scavenge) which is a less-than-desirable trait in a mascot I suppose, their calls/vocalizations are actually kind of wimpy sounding, and intelligence-wise they are certainly not the brightest of our feathered friends.

Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin advocated for the turkey to be our national bird because of its intelligence, but nobody liked the way it looked.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 29: Avian Courtship

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Omer 2019 Day 29: Chesed in Hod, Love in Glory
Avian Courtship
There is no animal that demonstrates love in glory quite like birds. While there are many different species that vary considerably in almost every way, one thing is consistent: there is no measure that is too glorious when it comes to matters of the heart (... pardon the anthropomorphisms).

Mannekins demonstrate elaborate courtship rituals that range from spectacular dances that are seemingly pulled straight from the King of Pop's choreography.

Birds of paradise have plumage that makes even the most flamboyant hat ladies look dull, and lyrebirds vocal calls mimic others and range in complexity.

Male birds can be truly glorious, and it's all in the name of winning over a special female (or really, any female who will choose him).

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 28: Endangered Species Day

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Omer 2019 Day 28: Malchut in Netzach, Leadership in Endurance

Endangered Species Day

Halli has a professional crush on David Attenborough. If you don't know him, watch his top 10 moments:

He is a naturalist and long-time broadcaster for the BBC. His wildlife documentary series include Life on Earth, Saving Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Our Planet (which lived at the top of my Netflix for a while). He is an outspoken advocate for wildlife conservation. At Davos, the annual economic forum in Switzerland, in January, Attenborough gave a speech entitled "The Garden of Eden is No More." He said,

"The only conditions modern humans have ever known are changing and changing fast. It is tempting and understandable to ignore the evidence and carry on as usual or to be filled with doom and gloom. But there is also a vast potential for what we might do."

Change takes leadership. We need a positive vision of what we are trying to save and how we can do it. Attenborough's work introducing the world to little-known species and advocating for endangered species and our planet's climate, is the kind of leadership to which we should all aspire. Find something you are passionate about, maintain that passion into your 90s, and speak with an enthusiasm that engages those around you.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Hear more from David Attenborough:

Omer 2019 Day 27: Walruses

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Omer 2019 Day 27: Yesod in Netzach, Foundation in Victory

Walruses

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Walruses in the wild are typically long-lived - up to 30 years! This is because they have few natural predators (only the bravest of orcas or polar bears are willing to risk being on the receiving end of those tusks). This also means that adults are not usually sexually mature until around 10 (females) or 15 (males). Because of their extensive lifespans, younger males sometimes wait even longer before they can contribute to the gene pool: in competition for breeding rights, younger, inexperienced males are no match for the larger, more experienced males who've been around the block a few times. Therefore, the founding fathers (literally) of a walrus herd are those males that emerge victorious in dangerous battles, and the younger ones must wait their turn.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 26: Wolves

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Omer 2019 Day 26: Hod in Netzach, Glory/Humility in Endurance
Wolves

Wolves will take the "humble" approach of hunting an animal by wearing them out through endurance. They know they can't beat elk or bison in speed or strength, but they have the endurance to out-run them in distance, so they keep pressing until they exhaust their prey.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 25: Komodo Dragons

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Omer 2019 Day 25: Netzach in Netzach, Endurance in Endurance
Komodo Dragons

Image by janwinkler from Pixabay

While a bit morbid, today's featured animal exhibits an extreme form of endurance in how they hunt and kill their prey. Komodo dragons were once thought to just be large, non-venomous lizards that ruled their island using brute force. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that these modern-day dinosaurs actually secrete a venomous protein in their saliva. Unlike cobras, who inject their venom into their prey and are rewarded with a tasty meal in just a few hours, Komodo dragon venom enters their victims through bite-wounds that the lizard must inflict. And then they wait. And wait. And wait some more. Then finally, the effects of the slow-acting venom that was oozed into the inflicted wound become too much to endure, the animal collapses, and the dragons feast.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 24: Bonobos

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Omer 2019 Day 24: Tiferet in Netzach, Compassion in Victory

Bonobos

How do we show compassion in victory, suppress our urge to gloat, and not go in for the kill? Today, we can take a lesson on compassion in victory from bonobos.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Primatologist Frans de Waal says, "Whereas in most primates reconciliation after a fight is typically sought by the subordinate party, in bonobos it is the dominant animal that seeks to make amends, especially if he has inflicted an injury. He may return to his victim and unerringly reach for the exact same toe that he has bitten and carefully inspect the damage. He obviously knows precisely what he has done and where. Then he spends half an hour or more licking and cleaning the wound that he himself inflicted."

Don't be afraid to make the first move toward reconciliation after a fight, especially if you "won" the argument. Showing compassion instead of gloating can bring healing and spare the other party further embarrassment.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!