The Birds Told Me

With the breadcrumbs in hand, Reb Moshe made his way to the park. As soon as he drew near, literally hundreds of birds came from all directions to greet him. He fed them with outstretched hands, the crumbs directly from the palm of his hand. He used to say he was tipping them. Those close to him understood that the birds received a tip for lifting up all the tefillos concerning the matters he was achieving this way.

He once told them that the birds revealed to him the future and all that would come to pass. When people wondered where he got certain astonishing information and how he could possibly know it, he said the birds had told him. He had a special seder and avodah concerning which bird ate from which hand. Some birds he pushed away, and they had to circle around and come back. At times he transferred the crumbs from one hand to the other, and the birds from one hand to the other. Everything was done with a purpose in mind.

Once there was an argument between two gentile nations, and their bickering was reported in the press. The papers all had their theories about what war was brewing. Reb Moshe remarked, "They will say that the goyim fight and hit one another, and I say that it is not the Russians or anyone else. It is the Nazis." People thought he was joking, but a few days later the newspaper headlines confirmed what Reb Moshe had said. How did he know? "The birds told me," he answered.