One of the most endearing characters in the annuls of Winnie the Pooh is an elderly donkey named Eeyore. His name came up recently when someone asked me if they were spelling the name of the Hebrew Month that just began correctly. Actually, in most transliterations the month is spelled I-Y-A-R, as in Iyar. But, I found something fascinating with connecting the Hebrew month of Iyar with the lovable character known as Eeyore.
For instance, when Eeyore is first found by Pooh and his friends, he is found floating in the water. On Passover, we retell the ancient story of the baby Moses being found, just as Eeyore was, floating in the water.
Eeyore spends a lot of time wandering and, as you are most certainly aware, our people spent a lot of time wandering through the wilderness. As we wandered, we set up temporary huts, which we still put up in our yards each year on the Festival of Sukkoth. Those huts are made out of a bit of wood and branches or thistles.
Now, it is true that Eeyore likes to eat thistles, but, it is also true that his house was built out of sticks, and, just as when we spend time in the Sukkah, we realize how fragile life can be and how everything we have can be wiped out in an instant, so Eeyore finds that a house of sticks is not necessarily the best thing to build a house out of.
This donkey, this lovable character, always ready to lend a helping hand to his friends, also comes out with one of the greatest lines for us to connect to our faith. He says, “If honey’s what you’re looking for, I know just the place to find it.”
There was a wonderful musical out many years ago that points the way in lyrical fashion as they sing about The Holy Land of Israel with the words, “This is the land of milk and honey.”
By the way, Eeyore isn’t the only name that is similar to the month of Iyar. There are women who are dubbed with the Hebrew name, Iora, and if you know what Oro means in Spanish, then you probably can guess that Iora means “gold.” One of the most famous songs of all time in Israel is Naomi Shemer’s “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav,” which means, Jerusalem of Gold.
During the month of Iyar, we observe Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, and then, the very next day, we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. It may sound almost ludicrous to go from a national day of mourning right into a national day of rebirth and joyous celebration, but it sure fits the month of Iyar.
According to the Sages, Iyar is a time of healing. The word “Iyar” is an acronym for “Ani Hashem Rophecha” (“I am HaShem your Healer.”)
On Passover, we celebrated our freedom from slavery. We spent so many years as slaves and then, one day, suddenly, we were freed from the pain of our taskmasters’ whips. Today, many of us are still enslaved by various forms of illness. In this month of Iyar may we, like Eeyore, should be ever ready to help a friend in need and may our visits and ministrations be as sweet as honey. And to those of you who are dealing with illness, remember that just one day can make all the difference in the world.
Shalom My Friends,
Rabbi Craig H. Ezring
Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.
