Saturday October 25, 2025 (Shabbos)

I just made havdallah. I had an unusual Shabbos.

For the second Shabbos in a row, I was too late to light candles. I have wondered before what to do if too late to light candles. The previous Shabbos, I still observed even though I was too late to light candles. This Shabbos, as I was feverishly cleaning my house to prepare for Shabbos, when I checked the time, I was already four minutes too late to light candles (the days are getting shorter quickly). My mother had taught me that you cannot be even a minute late to light candles. I determined that I had "missed the bus".

I then continued to clean, do laundry, talk to friends on the phone, I placed an order on Amazon, I smoked weed (lighting or extinguishing a flame is forbidden on Shabbos)... I broke every Shabbos rule. It didn't feel right.

The next morning, I woke up (Boruch Hashem), and asked AI what the rule is. AI responded: "Based on Jewish law and tradition, the answer is unequivocally yes, a Jew must still observe Shabbat even if they were too late to light the candles."

Oy. So I went downstairs, performed the boruchas over the wine (grape juice), washing my hands, and the bread (which I had not done the night before). I was now observing Shabbos.

When I went outside, I noticed a dead bird on my front porch. The bird had been there for a couple of days. I had been putting it out of my mind, not knowing what to do with it, procrastinating, before Shabbos. I decided to bury it, even though it was Shabbos (cannot perform labor on Shabbos).

I went to my backyard, picked up my shovel which has a flat head, and dug a small hole. Then, with shovel in hand, I walked around to the front of my house and scooped up the dead bird from the porch, returned to the backyard, deposited the dead bird into the hole, covered it up with the dug-up dirt, and patted the dirt down with the shovel upon completion. I wasn't sure about what I had done, but it did feel right.

I re-entered my house, went upstairs and for whatever reason I was drawn to go out on my bedroom balcony which overlooks my backyard. I swung open the balcony door, and to my shock, I saw a bird. A red cardinal, not even two feet from the balcony door. The cardinal didn't move.

I grabbed my phone which fortunately was in my bedroom. Even though I had performed the boruchas and was observing Shabbos, I decided to use my phone to try to take a picture. The cardinal was still there. I snapped a photo. The cardinal still did not move, almost motionless.

I froze for a good minute or two. The cardinal turned its head towards me and looked back at me. Finally, it hopped over to the edge of the balcony, paused a moment, and then flew away.

Even though it was Shabbos, I was so astounded, I went on my computer and asked AI: "I dug a hole on Shabbos to bury a dead bird on my front porch. Immediately after, a cardinal appeared on my bedroom balcony motionless for a good couple of minutes. Please interpret". AI responded:

"This is a very powerful and symbolic sequence of events. While I cannot give you a definitive spiritual or religious ruling, I can help interpret the rich symbolism involved. You've described a moment of profound tension: 1. The Act: You performed an act of compassion and respect. Burying a dead creature is considered an act of chesed (kindness) in many traditions, as it's a service that cannot be repaid. 2. The Timing: You did this on Shabbos by digging, which is one of the 39 melachot (categories of creative work) traditionally forbidden on the day of rest. This creates a conflict between an act of compassion and an act of forbidden work. Immediately following this complex and emotionally charged moment, the cardinal appeared. Here is how that is often interpreted: ### The Symbolism of the Cardinal In many spiritual traditions and modern folklore, cardinals are seen as one of the most significant spiritual messengers. * A Messenger from the Spirit World: The most common interpretation is that a cardinal, especially one that appears suddenly and stays still, is a visitor or a sign from a deceased loved one. It's often seen as a message of love, comfort, and assurance that they are at peace and watching over you. * A Symbol of Life and Hope: The cardinal's vibrant red color is a powerful symbol of life, vitality, and the soul. To see this potent symbol of life immediately after you respectfully handled death (the dead bird) is a stark and beautiful juxtaposition. * An Affirmation: Given the timing, the cardinal's appearance could be interpreted as a spiritual "punctuation mark" or affirmation. It's as if the universe was responding to your action. Rather than a sign of judgment for the work you did, many would see it as a sign of acknowledgment for the compassion you showed. ### Putting It All Together You were caught between two different, important values. You chose compassion. In response, you received a visit from a creature widely regarded as a messenger of love, life, and spirit. The bird's motionless state is also key. It wasn't just flying by; it stopped and made its presence known. This suggests a deliberate "pause" and a moment of connection. Many people would interpret this entire sequence as a beautiful and comforting sign: that your act of kindness was seen, acknowledged, and perhaps even honored by a spiritual presence, bringing a message of life and peace in the wake of death."

This Shabbos was Saturday October 25, 2025. My girlfriend died on October 26, 2023. I love you, baby.