THE SONG OF THE STORM PETREL
The storm petrel sings that Hashem warns the righteous to pray and repent before impending catastrophe.
[Song 41] Storm Petrel (Ch. 4)
צִיָּה אוֹמֶרֶת. אוֹ ר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק וּלְיִשְׁרֵי לֵב שִׂמְחָה: (תהילים צז יב)
The Stormy Petrel is saying: “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the straight-hearted.”
Commentary
Storm petrels are the smallest of all seabirds. They spend most of their lives upon
the open ocean. When a storm begin, they seek shelter upon ships.Their
appearance should not be perceived as a herald of calamity, but rather as a God-
sent warning to the sailors to ready themselves to weather the storm. More
importantly, it calls to the sailors – who are “righteous” “straight of heart” due to
their constant dependency on Hashem for survival – to “plant” seeds of prayer
which will sprout into great “light” of “glad” salvation.
The storm petrel’s song can be heard on land, too. We should utilize life’s “storms”
as opportunities to reach out wholeheartedly to our Father in heaven, and thereby
merit much light and happiness.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
This bird’s choice of dwelling in the desolate wastelands speaks of the theoretically ideal way to
engage in Torah study: in the desert, away from people, commerce, and distractions. It also dwells away from the
denser foliage of the irrigated lands. This is similar to that which רכב בן יונדב commanded his children to dwell in
tents. This was because spacious and sturdy buildings bring haughtiness. For this reason, the Torah was given in
the desert to tent dwellers. This bird sings how the ideal place from which light is fitting to sprout is from the
darkness of the desolate wastelands.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.