A Version You May Not Know
An Armenian legend explains that when the crow saw the dove, he felt envious and jealous. Before the dove could explain his adventures, the crow badly bit the tongue of the dove. This is the reason that up to this day doves make just a small, incomprehensible noise. They do not sing like other birds.
Sitting on the top of the stairs of the Cascade in Yerevan, I was staring directly at the beautiful Mount Ararat in the distance, across the way.
Its two peaks were covered with shiny white snow, surrounded by beautiful clouds.
Ararat is glorious and majestic. It seems as if the mountain hangs from the sky. It does not appear to have been built from the ground up.
The View from Above
The view from the Cascade is so beautiful and breathtaking.
The Cascade, as its name indicates, is built on a high hill. Stairs take the visitors to the highest elevation, from where the entire city of Yerevan can be seen with an eagles eyes.
Many stone fountains and statues are built on each resting level. Lovely flower beds add to its beauty. Water falls from the fountains.
Accompanied by Birds
The natural music of singing birds helps you climb the stairs to the highest point. One cannot stop comparing all the gorgeous man-made sculptures to the amazing form of Mount Ararat that was created by God and nature. In between, the city of Yerevan spreads from east to west, north to south. At the bottom of the Cascade, people seem as tiny as ants, walking with their families, children running around, folk music accompanying their every movement.
Action and Reaction
From childhood we have the belief that when someone acts evilly, God hits back immediately. He punishes, as we are told in the story of Noah or of Sodom and Gommorah.
Soon enough, however, we discover that many individuals who lie or cheat are doing much better than the good, honest people we know.
We see the man who killed his wife and friend 13 years ago still laughing and playing golf,. We ask ourselves: How come God does not punish such persons anymore?
Probing for an Answer
One answer may be that we are not those people. We dont know what they go through when they are alone.
Are they able to sleep every night?
Do they have to take alcohol and drugs in order to sleep?
If so, in a way that is their problem.
What I was witnessing, and admiring, from the top of the famous hill in Armenia was the development and the power of human life. From a pair of each creature on earth coming out of the Ark, to the view of the city of Yerevan spreading between Ararat and the Cascade, is stunning.
Noahs Human Frailties
For just a moment, I was imagining how scary it must have been for Noah, for his family and all the creatures in the Ark to emerge from it and to find themselves in the middle of Mount Ararat. (Some scientists have said that they have seen a part of the Ark on the mountain.)
Then I was admiring their human courage as they descended the mountain and restarted their lives.
They ploughed the earth. They built a place to live, and they grew the first grapes of the earth, using their strength and knowledge, later making the best wine.
Making Something from Nothing
From that empty land covered by the flood, what look at what has happened.
All these houses, all the trees, all the birds and all the animals came from that first pair in the Ark.
We should be proud of ourselves.
If we had been obliged to build an ark, how many of us could have come out into the restored world and resumed a triumphant life?
Just looking down, I was admiring the human race for having achieved so much.
Human Accomplishments
All of the discoveries that have been made, from the smallest to the biggest.
I was wondering how the human mind has been able to discover and create computers, electricity, trains, cars, copy machines and so many others.
How did Beethoven compose all those pieces?
How did Michelangelo create and paint all the beautiful sculptures?
Down the Cascade, the dark grey opera house stands proudly.
Beauty of the Arts
In my short visit this summer, I was lucky enough to attend the opera, to hear the finalists in the Aram Khachaturian piano competition.
Young boys and girls from all over the world played so beautifully. They showed how they have mastered all the techniques and created the nicest music, how they have conquered all the keys of the piano by their hard work and sacrifices.
I saw the Gayaneh Ballet and the Anoush Opera. The dancers and the singers were breathtaking. It is amazing to see how the artists have pushed themselves to perform, to design amazing movements and voices and bring. They bring out the best of their being.
A Lesson from the Torah
As we were studying last weeks Torah portion, its important message caught my attention.
It is said that when we die, according to our common belief, a person will be waiting for us with a stick, to blame us and to strike us for our bad actions. He will ask us all the whys. Contrary to that belief, the message was that after we leave this world, we only will be asked:
Did we use all of the abilities given to us from birth?
Did we go to the depth of our being?
Did we use all our knowledge for the good of everyone?
A Mysterious Commendation
Whenever my son played his violin well, his teacher told him, Good for you.
It took me a while to understand what the teacher meant. We were educated to please everyone, to do what others wanted us to do.
But I finally learned that we have to do everything as well as we can. When we achieve the best of ourselves, it is really good for us.
You Are Separate, Individual
We never should envy or compare ourselves to anyone else. Instead, we should ask ourselves honestly and constantly,
Did I do right what I had to do?
Did I just sit in a comfortable place, moan, criticize and envy others?
Or am I using all my given talent, strength and ability to their highest capacity?
Inside the Crows Mind
Maybe when the crow was sent out from Noahs Ark, the olive tree was already there, but perhaps the crow was too comfortable in the Ark, living in a warm place and being fed.
And so he decided not to even bring back an olive branch.
Dr. Rosemary Cohen, who lives in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, is the author of three books. She earned her doctorate in sociology from the Sorbonne in Paris. She moved to Los Angeles with her family 23 years ago. Since 1985, Dr. Cohen has owned and operated an international art business, Atelier de Paris, on Robertson Boulevard.
