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!