Announcing...the answer to my riddle!

Last week, I presented you with a riddle in my post about our trip to the zoo on Shushan Purim.  This riddle generated a lot of very creative responses from my readers in the western hemisphere (should that be capitalized?)  I must admit I was disappointed from my readers here in the Middle East, as they did not participate in the fun.  At least one reader here admits she was offended by the zebra's position (she would have preferred a front view)- I apologize, and next time I will try harder to get the zebra to pose nicely!

I must admit, that this is one of those examples where you could say that the question is better than the answer.  I DO have a real answer, however, it is much less exciting and creative than some of the suggestions that were given.

In order to give you the answer, I first need to give you some background:

A while ago, I read an interesting article in the Mishpacha, about the "Living Torah Museum", started by Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch.  Rabbi Deutsch's mission in founding the museum, was to display concepts mentioned in the Torah in a tangible way, making them come to life.  The museum features artifacts, real "stuffed animals", as well as diagrams and models.  (Sounds like a really nice place to visit if you're ever in Brooklyn or Lakewood).

I'm going to quote part of the article, where the answer to my riddle is found:

At this point in my tour, a school bus pulls up and deposits a group of seventh-graders from the Mirrer Yeshivah, accompanied by their rebbi. Rabbi Deutsch, clearly practiced in leading this type of group, starts right in with a splash:

“In Megillas Esther, it says Mordechai sent riders mounted on extremely swift animals — referred to as haachashtranim bnei haramachim — to tell the Jews they could defend themselves,” he tells the boys. “Does anyone know what a remach is?”

They shuffle expectantly; no one knows. “One source tells us it means zebra riders,” Rabbi Deutsch says. “Look, I just got a baby zebra. Anybody want to hold it?” He reaches up to pull a small zebra, posed in a sitting position, from a shelf. A dozen pairs of hands reach out to pet it.

“A lot of people think that zebras can’t be domesticated, but they can,” he goes on, clearly in his element. “Rothschild did it — he had a team of four zebras brought to England, and they pulled his coach.” He flicks on a monitor mounted near the ceiling, and a photo flashes of Lord Rothschild, seated regally in his carriage behind four harnessed zebras. Then he directs their attention to a nature video showing zebras leaping through the savanna, to show the boys just how fast they are.

Well, there you go!  Hope you learned something!  (You can read the full Mishpacha article here)