The Horse says:

“Behold, like the eyes of slaves who look to the hands of their masters, like the eyes of the maidservant who looks to the hand of her mistress, so too are our eyes to Hashem our G-d, until He is gracious to us.” (Tehillim 123:2)

Mighty, formidable, and tireless, a horse is a loyal servant to its master. It sleeps while standing, in brief naps that total to three hours a day, yet this paltry amount is sufficient for it to retain its unequalled vitality. On the other hand, a horse requires a tremendous amount of food. Even after its superhuman labor on its master’s behalf, it can look only hopefully toward his hand for sustenance. With its eyes, which incidentally are larger than those of any other mammal on land, it sings of the hardworking yet undemanding attitude that man ought to have toward his Benefactor, Hashem.

We should strive to emulate our Patriarchs, who were described as “running like horses” to do the will of Hashem, yet making no demands upon Him. If we, too, would gallop like the horse, willingly and with a great desire to serve, we would long ago have reached our destination and destiny.

• Sources: Sanhedrin 96a, Pesachim 113b, and Perek B’Shira. See also Otzar HaYedios.

*In loving memory of Harav Zeev Shlomo ben Zecharia Leib

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