Fuzzy Wuzzy wuz a Hyrax

hyrax
When I photographed this guy in early July at Ein Gedi, I didn’t know what he was. Cute, that’s for sure. Turns out he’s (or she?) a hyrax, an animal that frequents these parts.

Does this look at all like a bunny rabbit? Because in Modern Hebrew, a shafan is a rabbit. But in ancient Hebrew, the word shafan probably applies to a hyrax. See Psalms 104:18 —

The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the conies.
הָרִים הַגְּבֹהִים, לַיְּעֵלִים; סְלָעִים, מַחְסֶה לַשְׁפַנִּים

Conies are the translation of shefanim and supposedly refer to these furry fellows.

For more on nature at the Dead Sea, see:

If you like animal photos, see Dina on Parshat Balak.

And to read more inspiring posts by other inspiring bloggers, visit Jack’s Haveil Havalim #173.

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