When ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, who is currently in South Africa for a training program with tens of current and new ZAKA volunteers, took time out to go on safari, he got more than he bargained for in the jungle.
At a certain point, visitors are allowed to walk with the lions, after a briefing on how to behave with them – do not bend over, do not kneel, do not stroke their heads, carry a stick that the lions are familiar with from feeding time, etc.
Meshi-Zahav was strolling along with two lionesses, when suddenly one of them turned his head round towards him. Then, with a sudden leap, she pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. The locals immediately ran to his defense, beat the lioness back with sticks and released Meshi-Zahav.
“It was absolutely terrifying, for the first time in my life I felt real fear, and the power of the lioness,” Yehuda Meshi-Zahav said “Out of instinct, I grabbed my kippa so that it would fly off. I remembered that I shouldn’t fall to the ground, otherwise the lion would attack me. But I could not stand up to sheer strength of the lion. By the grace of God, I was saved.”
Meshi-Zahav was taken to a local clinic for a tetanus injection to prevent any infection from the scratches.
…touch the lions at all.
the rabbi, whose zchuyos stood him in good stead baruch Hashem, should not have kept his hand on the creature’s back, it’s possible that the human touch made the lion edgy, especially since the rabbi doesn’t look like the average tourist this creature is accustomed to seeing. lions are, after all, majestic creatures of the wild who operate on both instinct and fear. it is how Hashem created them and how He programmed them to act.
There is so much hasgocho protis in this story. Hashem watches over us from danger and this man knew it he just KNEW it. I’m so INSPIRED right now to learn from a man who walked with lions!! What bravery! All haters shhhh but you know what they say “haters gonna hate”. This is how we Make America Great Again! With bravery! And courage!
They should have told him DO tuck your tzitzis in. Cats instinctually will swipe at strings and the like.
It looks like the big cat wanted to play with his tzitzis. My little cat also likes to play with strings.
It is very common to be able to pet lion cubs…I have done so many times (we were told that at night, they are not so friendly though)
However, during the many safaris I went on growing up in SA, I have never heard of being able to approach older lions.
It is so sad that they had to beat the lion. Why did they have to be there in the first place. It is not natural for a lion like that to be tamed.
Think about your family beforehand
That lion didn’t pounce nothing. Look at the video she turns around after. He fell from I tap which I’m sure was powerful but gosh
I guess being involved in something as gruesome as zaka makes you a little less sensitive to other dangers? Baruch Hashem he was relatively unharmed.
They are beautiful animals, Hashem put them on this earth for a reason, the Rabbi startled the Lions, if they really wanted to they could of tore him apart
Don’t kneel or carry a stick they said. What do they know…
Doesn’t mean you should
Terrible example from a community leader
As much as I hesitate to criticize a Tzadik I see that he is also kneeling in the first pic after specifically being told not to … let this be a lesson for all of our traveling girls & bochurim – just because you are in a different setting & having fun you must still respect Danger
I’m sorry but how does a thinking person put themselves in harms way. This is shocking. BH that he is escaped serious injuries.
Baruch Hashem everything turned out okay. Looks like his hand was on the beast though. Wondering if that was permissible?
I don’t care what the locals say, you don’t put your head in the crocodile’s mouth. A little common sense goes a long way.
What an odd story.
People are just plain ignorant of the African Animals & their non-pet minds!!!!!
This man is sooo lucky that Hashem was on his side this time around.