The dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf! Then Noach knew that the waters had decreased on the earth.
English: “An olive leaf torn in its mouth” — R’ Yirmiyah said: What is meant by “behold, an olive leaf torn in its mouth”? The dove said before the Holy One, blessed be He: “Master of the Universe, may my food be as bitter as an olive and given by Your hand, rather than as sweet as honey and dependent on flesh and blood.”
On the daf / in context: “Taraf” is read as “food/provision.” The dove prefers bitter sustenance from Heaven over sweet sustenance from human hands.
Type of Learning
Custom (aggadic prayer placed in the mouth of the dove).
What Is Learned
Better bitter food from Heaven than sweet food dependent on human beings.