Prepared, Not Afraid
- BD Greenman
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
I’m BD Greenman — your Cowboy Rabbi from Israel.
I teach kids how to be awesome human beings through outdoor experiences. Nature is our classroom, and sometimes it gets real. Last night we saw a hyena. It was incredible. Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of them — and every encounter is a lesson.
One of the first things I teach kids is preparation. Before we ever step out, every child has a flashlight. If you can see what’s in front of you, you can deal with it — a branch, fishing line, or a hyena moving in the bushes.
Our rules are simple:
We don’t run.
We listen.
We stay aware.
I’m in the forest at least three nights a week. Do we see things? Yes. Are we afraid? No. Are we prepared? Always.
Kids ask, “What if a hyena attacks us?” It won’t.* There are no known attacks here. And if a child were ever truly in danger, I would do whatever it takes to protect them — without hesitation.
We don’t teach fear. We teach awareness, calm, and readiness.
That’s how you move through nature — and life.
Photo Credit: Elkana Goldshmidt - Photo taken during our chug session.
Other references:
למען חיות הבר - כתוב: אביהוא שרווד
זכות גדול ומזל לפגוש בצבוע, ועוד כמה פעמים, זכות. בכללי, אין סכנה מצבוע, זה בעל חיים יחידאי שניזון בעיקר מפגרים. מעולם לא היתה תקיפה צבוע על אדם בישראל, ולא שמעתי על מקרה כזה אצל שכנינו. אני מאמין שאתם פוגשים בצבוע צעיר שעדיין לא למד להיות בישן וחששן כמו מבוגרים.
English Translation:
Avihu Sherwood wrote: It is great privilege and great luck to meet a hyena, and several more times, you won. In general, there is not danger from a hyena, it is a solitary animal that feeds mostly on invertebrates. There has never been a hyena attack a person in Israel, and I have not heard of such a case among our neighbors. I believe you met a young hyena who has not yet learned to be afraid and timid as the adults.
To learn more from Avihu Sherwood, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CFKYiqSAK/
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