Old habits die hard. It’s been some time since I equated the Hebrew term nesher with the English “eagle.” I’ve learned that vulture is a more accurate translation.
But I still find myself translating the biblical phrase “al kanfei nesharim” into “on the wings of eagles.” Back as a child in New Orleans, I imagined that one day, the Jews would soar back to Israel on kanfei nesharim, the wings of eagles. There was no question in my mind that the eagle was the king of birds, the most majestic feathered creature on the planet.
Returning to our atop the magnificent bird’s wings seemed fitting. After all, it was the eagle that was featured on the president’s flag, military insignia, and one-dollar bills in of birth. According to John F.
Kennedy, the eagle was chosen by the founding fathers for a reason: “The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.” The eagle has long been synonymous with grace and majesty for Westerners. So, it should come as no surprise that the biblical word nesher (which seems to refer to a large, stately bird) was thought to be an eagle.
But eagles are rather hard to come by in the Land of Israel, which after all, was the backdrop for all things biblical. Years of hiking through Israel’s outdoor spaces taught me that. Vultures, on the other hand, (and more specifically, griffon vultures) are quite commonly found in parks and nature trails all over the country.
Near Ha.