Stepping Stones To ShalomSample

Be a Bridge for Peace 

The Jewish sages taught that there are three symbols for peace: The river, the bird, and the kettle.

Here’s why: A river was traditionally used as a means of connection between one town and another. It was a way for people to do business with each other and meet one another. A bird makes its home on land but can fly high up in the sky. It bridges heaven and earth as it travels between the two. 

The kettle takes two opposing forces and brings them together to create something good. Fire wants to boil away water; water seeks to extinguish a fire. However, when a kettle comes between them, both thrive and together they create a substance that contributes to humanity.

In the Bible, God commanded the Israelites to construct the Tabernacle, a temporary structure that would serve as a sanctuary until the Temple would be built in Jerusalem. Just before construction on the Tabernacle began, Moses gathered all of the people together as one unified group. Moses taught the people that the Tabernacle would serve as a conduit for unity, and it would take on the three qualities of the river, bird, and kettle.

Like a river, the Tabernacle, and then the Temple, would be a way for people to connect with one another. It would be a meeting place for all Israel when they came as pilgrims during the three mandated festivals. 

The Tabernacle would also function like a bird, connecting heaven and earth. This was the place where a person could most intensely experience God.  It was the place where the glory of God resided in the Holies of Holy, and where the High Priest, on behalf of the people, would seek atonement for Israel’s sins.

Finally, the Tabernacle had the power of a kettle. While people often held different beliefs and opinions, which led to arguments and division, the Tabernacle stood as a symbol of everything that the people had in common — a belief in God and the desire to serve Him. All differences melted away for the sake of the common cause.

Today, we no longer have the Tabernacle or the Temple, but the sages teach that each individual can become a “mini-sanctuary.” We all can make a place for God to dwell within and serve as a conduit for shalom. We can be a living embodiment of the Torah, of which it is written: "…all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).

Like a river, let us join people together through building bridges of understanding and making connections. Like the bird, let us strive to connect with the heavens even as we live on earth. And like the kettle, let us make shalom between opposing forces, as we focus on our common values, beliefs, and God’s purposes. 

Stepping Stone 8: Become a bridge builder. Most recently, Pope Francis reminded Christians around the world that it is their duty to “not raise walls but bridges.” Look for ways to bring different kinds of people together for good purposes in all areas of your life.