Stories @ CSI

Shearith Israel staff and others present received an unusual visitor recently in the form of a red-tailed hawk. (Or, as it is more commonly known, Buteo jamaicensis.) The hawk remained by the entrance on an extremely hot day for a prolonged period of time. It later flew to the Courtyard, where it spent time sprawled out on a bench and standing beside the doorway. Rabbi Kaiman posted photos on Facebook and an amusing thread of comments ensued, such as: "... a bird of pray", "When is minyan?", "Is it interested in membership?", "Is he watching you like a hawk?", "Did s/he get asked to join a committee?", "Looking to convert?"

In a show of community and support fitting to CSI, members offered suggestions for caring for the hawk and recommended a few animal rehabilitation organizations to contact. Thanks to community friend Ilana Schafer, a veterinary epidemiologist at the CDC, we connected with a rehabber in the neighborhood who came by to take and care for the special visitor.