Articles with the tag: parsha
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Summit?
“Once upon a time,” the Biblical story reads, Jacob returned home to his parents, only to discover that his brother Eisav, who had years before sworn to kill Jacob in revenge for what he saw as the theft of his blessing, was coming with a force of 400 men. Such a large contingent suggested that the passage of time had not alleviated the resentment. Eisav’s intent must be violence. So Jacob prepared himself for war, while he prayed to G-d and sent gifts. One sentence in particular caught the attention of the Sages. “Jacob was very afraid and distressed.” (32: 8)
“Thousands of years later,” the media headlines read, Jacob’s descendant, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is returning to his…
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Words as Weapons
Israel, and by extension the entire Jewish people, are fighting not one enemy but two. The first chooses traditional weapons: guns, knives or explosives. The second combatant utilizes more avant-garde artillery: words. In our current era of easy internet access, instant messaging, blogs, and mobile phones, the old adage, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” has taken on new meaning. Bullets and bombs have limited scope, misinformation and propaganda do not.
This second battlefield has opened a new front. Until now, one could expect news companies to present biased coverage against Israel. After all they are only interested in ratings, and anti-Israel slant sells. But that governments, among them western democracies should countenance blatant hatred and calls for the…
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No Shortcuts to Heaven
The Chasidic master Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk once asked his disciples, “Where is G-d?” Puzzled, they replied, “Is it not written that G-d fills the heavens and the earth? Hence, G-d must be everywhere.”
“No,” replied the Rebbe, “G-d is where we let Him in.” While scientists have sought G-d in the design of the universe, historians in the survival of the Jewish people, and spiritualists in mystical experiences, there is a surer way. Just let Him in.
Though He could, G-d does not impose Himself on our consciousness. True, He walks in our garden, but for the most part He allows the children of Adam the deception that they can hide. His existence, at least the proof of it,...
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True to Ourselves
Jacob wrestled, but with whom? The text merely says, “a man.” The Sages identify him as the angel of Eisav. Though the passage resists easy interpretation, it holds the key to understanding Jewish identity. For it was then that Jacob acquired the name that his descendants would bear throughout eternity, “The children of Israel.”
Names in the Torah, especially a name given by G-d, are not mere labels. Jacob becoming Israel signals who we are; the people who struggled with G-d and with man. What does this mean? One way into the text is to reason backward. By studying the result, one might guess at the cause.
The events of the next day are astonishing. We had been prepared for…
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True to Ourselves (33:29)
Jacob wrestled, but with whom? The text merely says, “A man.” The Sages identify him as the angel of Eisav. Though the passage resists easy interpretation, it holds the key to understanding Jewish identity for it was then that Jacob acquired the name that his descendants would bear throughout eternity, “The children of Israel.”
Names in the Torah, especially a name given by G-d, are not mere labels. Jacob becoming Israel signals who we are; the people who struggled with G-d and with man. What does this mean? One way into the text is to reason backward. By studying the result, one might guess at the cause.
The events of the next day are astonishing. We had been prepared for…
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The Struggle (33:25)
In a previous essay, “Between Heaven and Earth” (from the Biblical section of Vayetze), we argued that Jacob has inherited both his grandfather and father’s qualities. True, these characteristics are distinct, even contradictory: Abraham believes that G-d allows man the power to change his destiny, while Isaac insists that man must have enough faith to passively accept what G-d has decreed. Indeed, the ladder dream of last week’s portion provides the surreal imagery of the two Patriarchs; are you a man trying to perfect this physical world or are you an angelic creature more concerned with what heavenly heights you yourself can scale? This week’s Parsha with its “wrestling match” continues the tale.
Jacob is returning home. Once again, he…
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The Two Faces of Evil (32:25)
In the still of the night, with his family on the other side of the river, Jacob remained alone on the far banks of the Yabbok. Suddenly he encountered a man who engaged him in a wrestling match. According to our Sages, the man was no ordinary human being, he was an angel. Even more interesting, he was no ordinary angel, he was Samael, the guardian angel of Eisav.
Our Rabbis teach us that Samael represents evil as no other celestial being. Powerful as he was however, the angel could not overcome Jacob and at the break of day pleaded to be let go. The Patriarch realized that he had the upper hand and negotiated a blessing and thus received…
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Jacob Remained Alone (33:25)
The narrative seems quite simple. The angel of evil waited until Jacob was alone, defenseless and vulnerable, whereupon he ambushed him. The Sages of the Midrash however, perceive a deeper implication in our Patriarch’s isolation. “Rabbi Berachia said concerning The Holy One, Blessed be He, ‘G-d alone shall be exalted, so too, Jacob remained alone.’”
Man by nature is a gregarious animal. He craves company. Even if he be shy or anti-social, his mind and heart are involved with thoughts and feelings about others. Jacob was different. Place him in a crowd he still rose above the mundane concerns of petty man. Furthermore, the path that he was embarking on was a road that would forever separate him and his…
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Alone at Last (33:25)
The highlight of this week’s Torah portion is Jacob’s “wrestling match” with the angel of Esav. The narrative tells us that our patriarch remained alone whereupon the angel of evil attacked him. Superficially, the story is quite straightforward - the spirit waited until Jacob was defenseless and vulnerable, and then ambushed him.
The Sages, however, give us another insight into the strategy of the wily demon. Our forefather’s aloneness represented the enemy to the angel because only then did he resemble G-d Almighty who is also unique and alone. Here we have a new element in Jacob’s isolation. He was as far removed from ordinary men as G-d is detached from the celestial beings.
Man, by nature, is a gregarious…
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A Kiss With Dots (33:4)
In writing the weekly Timeless Torah, I have at my disposal any number of tools that I frequently utilize to draw your attention to a particular point. Often I will use italics or a bold font to catch your eye. Other methods commonly used to achieve the same goal are words ensconced in “quotation marks”, underlined, or written with all CAPITAL letters. The Divine author of the Torah, on the other hand, refuses such obvious and feeble devices. Still, once in a while, even the most scrutinized best-selling book of all time requires its readers to stop and wonder if there is more to the text than meets the eye. At which point, literary tricks are necessary. What are they?...
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Eisav Felt the Heat (33:14)
A recurring theme throughout the entire book of Genesis is, “Ma’aseh Avos siman l’banim-Everything that happened to the Patriarchs foreshadows that which will happen to their children.” The Ramban (Nachmanides, 1194-1270) elaborates on this idea in several places including in his introduction to this week’s Biblical reading. Indeed, according to his commentary this parsha is the prime example of this phenomena, in particular, the guidance offered us on how to deal with the many manifestations of Eisav, the classic anti-Semite in every generation.
So whether evil appears as a brother who kisses you, an angel who wrestles with you, or in any other disguise, Jacob presents us with a variety of stratagems on how to mange the enemy. In fact,...
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Prayer (32:10)
Prayer. How do we relate to this most important skill of inter-dimensional communication? Is it something only children do at bedtime? Perhaps formal prayer should be reserved for official services in synagogue? There are others who feel that authentic prayer (in contrast to formal prayer) only occurs in emergencies. But whatever the circumstance, the question that deserves a thoughtful response is: why do we pray? And why is prayer considered one of the fundamental pillars of Judaism? Lucky for us, this week’s Biblical reading provides a powerful answer.
Jacob had just received the news that his wicked and vengeful brother, Eisav, is on the warpath with 400 mercenaries. Rashi, the foremost commentator on the Torah, points out that upon hearing…
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After Obama, No Excuse
Many labeled Barack Obama the bi-racial or post-racial candidate. Better yet, he could not be labeled; he was the once-in-a-lifetime politician that transcended the narrow definitions imposed by the long entrenched white versus black society. How did Barack make voters forget his skin color, non-traditional upbringing, and Black Liberation church affiliation? He did not present himself as the ‘black’ candidate, the ‘theologically-different’ contender, or as ‘Congress’ most-liberal’ nominee. He was the quintessential everyman’s man, the ultimate prototype melting-pot citizen. As such, he was offensive to none, agreeable with all.
Without a doubt, Obama’s story is compelling. It’s a political rags-to-riches testimony multiplied by the 100th power. But he is not alone. Others have crossed larger deserts - literally. Shlomo Mula…
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Best of Times
The Bible makes a big deal of Abraham’s willingness to leave his home and his birthplace to an unknown destination. The fact that his nephew Lot accompanied his uncle and similarly undertook the rigors of this spiritual odyssey (Genesis 12:4) should also be a testament to Lot’s sterling character. Yet this same Lot who demonstrated such righteousness by following his uncle to an unknown destination now throws his lot in with the most decadent society in the world! What happened in between? Lot prospered. He made it big. Money can do strange things to people. The great Lot who left everything to follow Abraham, now abandons Abraham to follow the money trail Wealth is one of the great tests of…
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Circumcision; Uncover the Mystery
Two stories: 3 candidates for new samurai, German knife (Personal: Agnostic)
Abraham’s self-performed circumcision launched him as a Jew. Why?
Greeks, Bolsheviks decreed against bris. Why?
Mitzvos performed by uncircumcised person just doesn’t cut it. Why?
Torah: Body and soul. Mystical Judaism is not divorced from body of Torah.
Body without soul is corpse; soul without body is a ghost.
Mitzvohs (like everything else) need to be defined: 1) Physical (tells us little), 2) what you do (work, hobbies), 3) inner passions/desires.
Ex: succah – 1) hut, 2)Party hut, 3) Hashem sheltering the Jewish people, Makifin D’binah.
Circumcision: 1) a cut on a sensitive part of the flesh, 2) Bris (gematria 612 + the word itself), bris is equal to…
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G-d's Word, Our Words
Abraham begins his career as a wanderer. He will leave his home in Mesopotamia, stop in Canaan, travel to Egypt and soon enough turn around. In the Holy Land itself, the first Patriarch will wander from Chevron on to Beer Sheva, then the Philistine coast and finally to the Mountain of Moriah. Apparently, staying put is not part of the Jewish psyche.
All of this of course can be blamed not on Abraham’s wanderlust, but on the directive of G-d who orders our foremost of nomads to, “Go out from your land, from your place of birth and the house of your fathers, to the land which I will show you.”
This mysterious land is not described. Its location is…
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Meshuggeh or Sane?
Abraham, in order to realize his destiny as the father of the children of Israel, was faced with the difficult challenge of leaving all that was familiar and beginning a trek to the unknown. Though promised wealth, leadership, and fame for making this sojourn, the verse testifies, “Avrom went because Hashem had spoken to him.” That was his sole motive.
Abraham’s nephew also made the trip, as it says, “And Lot went with him.” He too sacrificed the comforts of his land, birthplace, and home in order to accompany his uncle. Indeed, Lot’s willingness to face the rigors of travel seems to be greater than his uncle’s. After all he wasn’t specifically commanded by G-d to do so. And yet,...
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The Act of Circumcision
Mazal Tov! You’ve just been blessed with a newborn boy. On the one hand, what a joy; on the other, what a responsibility. Not only are you occupied with providing for the newborn’s physical needs, you are also obligated to concern yourself with his spiritual welfare. After all, this youngster represents the newest link in the golden chain of our People stretching back over three and a half thousand years. No wonder than that we immediately introduce our ‘little bundle’ to the world of Torah and commandments. Indeed, with barely a week having passed since his birth, the child already undergoes his first mitzvah. Although mitzvohs are commonly translated as commandments, a more etymologically correct translation would be connection. Mitzvohs…
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Yofi & Chayn
Avraham is commanded by Hashem to go to Eretz Yisrael. Avraham arrives there only to see that there is famine everywhere, so he takes Sarah and the rest of his household down to Egypt. As they are about to enter Egypt, Avraham says to Sarah (12:11-13), “Behold, now I know that you are a beautiful woman and when the Egyptians see you, they will say ‘She must be his wife’ and they will kill me and let you live. So please tell them you’re my sister so it will be good for me.”
How can it be that Avraham only realizes that his wife Sarah is beautiful now? Avraham and Sarah had to have been married for a number of…
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Faith & Blessings
Abraham’s brief but stellar career as G-d’s chosen, could not be wrong. When his wife, Sarah, fell into the clutches of Pharaoh’s harem, it resulted in nothing, except as one of the mysterious avenues whereby G-d made Abraham even wealthier. When his nephew Lot was captured along with the other Sodomites, all it did was allow Abraham to battle and defeat four powerful kings and thus add further luster to his already beloved name.
Still with all the accolades and blessings being showered upon the first Jew, he bemoans his situation in life. “G-d, what is it that You can give me, seeing that I am going to be childless…and my servant will inherit me?” And the word of G-d…
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The Four Monarchies
One of the most powerful scenes ever painted by the renowned Chassidic artist, Zalman Kleinman, is based upon the Covenant that is graphically described in this week’s Torah reading. “I am Hashem Who brought you out of Ur Kasdim to give you this land to inherit it…Take to Me three heifers, three goats, three rams… He (Abraham) took all these, he cut them in the center and placed each piece opposite its counterpart…Birds of prey descended ... A deep sleep fell upon Abraham And behold, ,strong> a dread, great darkness fell upon him.”
According to the Midrash, this final sentence is an allusion to the four exiles Israel would have to undergo. The word, dread , refers to Babylon which…
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