The Etz Chaim synagogue in Leeds has a new member of the congregation; a Peacock called Pinchus.
The bird appeared a couple of days after Shavuot. It had apparently been nesting in a nearby water tower but moved home to the trees in the grounds of synagogue.
“It just appeared one day,” said Rabbi Anthony Gilbert. “It goes from tree to tree around the car park but also likes to sit of the roof. If you look up quite often you see it’s head peeping over the parapet”.
The congregants have named the bird "Pinchus". When it first appeared, the Etz Chaim contacted the RSPCA, the police and nearby Harewood House which has a bird garden but no one had reported any of them missing.
Pinchus has become something of an attraction. “He’s quite tame and friendly and brings a lot of pleasure to the children who see him on a Shabbat morning.” Rabbi Gilbert said.
Peafowl are not covered by any UK wildlife protection laws, thus not classed as a wild bird in the UK.
Most birds will have owners, as they are domestic pets. As domesticated pets, they are also covered by the Protection of Animals Act 1911 with regard to cruelty.
They apparently can live up to 35 years and Rabbi Gilbert thinks that Pinchus may be in the later stages of his life.
The synagogue caretaker is feeding Pinchus, who uses his beak to knock on the door each morning at breakfast time.
Peacocks have a spiritual reference in the Kaballah branch of Judaism.
“They are supposed to be a sign for Jewish people,” says Rabbi Gilbert, “In Kaballalh they believe that when the peacock is around and his tail is down, it’s representative of when the Jews are oppressed or struggling”. Likewise when a peacock has it’s plumage fully spread it’s symbolic of the race doing well.
Pinchus’s fate hangs in the balance as some members of the synagogue council are concerned about health and safety issues with having a peacock living in the grounds.