When Rav Chaim Berlin, came to the Old City of Jerusalem over 100 years ago he was davening in the main Churva Shul during Shabbat of Chol HaMoed. As the chazan read from Shir HaShirim "song of songs" he reached a verse which compares the Jewish People to a dove and Rav Chaim Berlin, burst into tears. When they asked him why he was so emotional about this verse he explained to everyone the following story. When he was in Russia, a high ranking Russian soldier came to him one time and spoke to him secretly. He told Rav Chaim Berlin that his wife just gave birth to a baby boy and that since he is Jewish he wants his son to have a bris milah. The soldier told him that he must keep this a complete secret because if anyone finds out he will lose his position and will be sent to Siberia. Rav Chaim Berlin asked the soldier if he is observant in any other aspects of Judaism. The soldier responded by saying he eats on Yom Kippur, doesn't keep Shabbat or Kosher and lives life as a total non-jew. Rav Chaim Berlin asked the soldier that if he lives life as a total non-jew then why would he risk his life and everything that he has worked for in order for his son to have a bris? The soldier responded by saying, that although he is very far from the Jewish People and Torah observance, may be one day his son will decide that he wants to be observant and live as a Jew, and he doesn't want anything to hold him back, he wants his son to have a path to enable him to return. For that chance, he said he was willing to give up everything, even his life..

Rav Chaim Berlin was moved my the words of this Russian soldier and it reminded him of the midrash on the verse in Shir HaShirim which compares the Jewish People to a dove. The Midrash says that as far as a dove flies away from the nest it will never distance itself so far that it cannot find its way back. As the Chazan read this verse he was reminded of this story and therefore he burst into tears.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,

Heath