A nursing home resident, a woman of about 90, went to the State Fair today with her daughter. She saw just-born calves and sheep, and an array of farm animals, all up close for the first time. This woman belonged for most of her adult life to a Conservative synagogue, one that has, for the last 35 years or so, been on the leftward fringe of the Conservative Movement. Despite that, she kept kosher (until her late 60's, when she gave it up), and was and still is actively involved in Jewish life.
She described her outing to me and then excitedly said, "It was so wonderful to see those baby calves and sheep. You can really see God's handiwork by seeing them, by seeing God's creation."
This was Avraham Avinu's (Abraham's) lesson, taught anew by one of his grandchildren.
Somewhere tonight, a certain Zoo Rabbi is smiling.