In a fitting tribute to the spirit of the Jewish people, Israel’s newly chosen national bird is the hoopoe. Known for its golden crown of feathers, this bird is the subject of many stories and legends. Perhaps the most famous is one involving King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
As the legend goes, the Queen of Sheba comes to visit King Solomon in his royal palace and wishes to see a display of might. In order to fulfill her request, King Solomon summons all the birds of the world before him, determined to build her a palace of bird beaks. The hoopoe is the last to arrive, but he cleverly invokes the riddle game, summarily causing King Solomon to realize that his request is inhumane. To honor the hoopoe for his courage and daring, King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba gift him with a golden crown.
Despite the prominent place it holds in Jewish folklore, the hoopoe is listed in the Old Testament as “abhorrent” — an impure, forbidden food.
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
Copyright © 2013, Forward Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Claims Conference Chief Knew of $57M Holocaust Fraud Probe Earlier 
Top Dog: Who Makes the Best Kosher Hot Dog in America?
Why Do Jews Intermarry at a Much Higher Rate Than Others?
End Orthodox Monopoly on Jewish Marriage in Israel
Boston Bombers Pal Slain in Florida Eyed in 'Jewish' Triple Murder
You've successfully signed up!
Come on. This is a Jewish newspaper. Since when do Jews write about themselves as if they're non-Jews? The "dukhifat" (the hoopoe) is "not-kosher" according to the "Torah". The "Old Testament" is a term that you could use when explaining Jewish topics to total outsiders - not to other Jews. When speaking of forbidden food, generally Jews talking to other Jews say that it's "not-kosher".
king soloman bird