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December 5, 2025 |
Dear Friends,
In Hebrew School this week, we attempted to cover three Torah portions (and we didn’t even cover everything). At first glance, you might think this a simple task. However, this part of the Torah would make a compelling telenovela script that might take a year or more to unfurl. This week’s Torah portion alone is a testament to how many stories can be fit into a single segment.
We are confronted this week with Vayishlach, "he sent" (Genesis 32:3-36:43). This Torah portion includes all of the following events happening to one family, focusing on one man in particular, Jacob: leaving a familiar environment, preparing to see a family member you haven’t seen or spoken to in 20 years, wrestling with an angel (or is it your subconscious), the rape of your only daughter and the subsequent violent behavior of her brothers (your sons), and with the death of your beloved wife in childbirth on the road. The final event of this Torah portion is the death of Isaac at the age of 180, his two sons come together to bury him. It all seems to come at us in breakneck speed, but what we need to do is sit with each part of the story as it builds.
As the story begins, we are given clues about ourselves and how our lives unfold slowly and sometimes quite chaotically. Gaining any clarity at all comes with time and often with a great deal of struggle. For insight, we need only look at Jacob.
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Mitzvah of the Week
The power of coming together in person cannot be underrated. We are about to celebrate Thanksgiving with those important to us, be they chosen family or blood relations. It is a time to revisit our sense of gratitude of being able to break bread together, be it gluten free or otherwise.
We remember that all too recent time when we were unable to come together. Now here we are, once more able to be present for one another.
This past Tuesday at our community Thanksgiving dinner, that feeling of gratitude was ever present. I was delighted to be on a panel organized by Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff of the Riverdale Y. It was wonderful to be on a panel with two women I respect and love, Dr. Mehnaz Afridi and Reverend Krystin Granberg. These two women are true collaborators and understand that trust and relationships are built over time while working together. These relationships take care and the ability to see past the ways in which we are different to be able to see the ways in which we share much more.
Building bridges takes time, destroying them takes no time at all if we are careless. My wish for all of you as you gather with those you care about, to recognize the ways in which you are bound together finding the acres of common ground that has brought you to the same table.
Happy Thanksgiving
| Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu ve'al kol Israel, ve'imru, Amen. |
| May the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us all and all the people of Israel. |
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