Quite a short one this week, only takes 2 minutes to read - Give it a go
This week I have done something slightly different. I have included a text at the start, but I have come up with my interpretation of the parasha (largely influenced by http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Weekly_Torah_Commentary/toldot_jts.htm) and then related it back to the parasha - I usually do it the other way around.
STUFF I HAVE WRITTEN IS IN RED
STUFF I HAVE FOUND IS IN BLUE
Though our own prayers might not have wings to ascend to the highest worlds, we can still contact the Upper Realms through the updraft created by the prayers of the righteous. Finally, the text points out that our tendency is to welcome and embrace people into our lives whose nature is similar to our own. In contrast, we're quick to pass judgment and distance ourselves from those who differ from us.
http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/p=zohar/weekly/Toldot
What this passage is saying is that we should not be so quick to disregard those who are the 'other'. But it also begins by saying there are those are not righteous, and that the good deeds of the few will help their prayers reach higher worlds.
Should we really ignore the many, and rely on a few good people to help us out?
I think we can look at our own movement to answer the questions brought up here.
There are several things in our movement that as concepts are very hard to understand. I know from personal experience that understanding socialism from texts is just about impossible for me, but by experiencing a kvutsah environment I feel I have a much deeper understanding than a professor of socialism.
Cultural Judaism can often have an elitist feel to it. If it is about reading texts, finding meaning and changing what doesn't fit into your meaningful experience - then it can be completely alienating for those who don't enjoy study or reading.
I think the answer is in catering to an individuals needs. And that is one of the messages that I believe comes out of this weeks parasha.
A Midrash relates how Jacob was like a myrtle and Esau a wild rose, growing side by side. Jacob had a pleasant aroma and Esau thorns. After 13 years of schooling, Jacob continues on to higher Jewish education and Esau pursues a life of depravity
Isaac favors Esau's manual labor, outdoors, hands-on life style, while Rebekkah clearly prefers the scholar, the son who is school-wise and excels in the academy.
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Weekly_Torah_Commentary/toldot_jts.htm
What if the Isaac and Rebekkah learnt from each other. What if they incorporated their hadracha techniques to cater to their childrens needs. Rebekkah could help Esau be a 'better' person by catering to his hands-on experiential style of learning, and Jacob could be taught to respect and understand Esau through texts.
If only Jacob and Esau had Habo madrichim things would have been different.
As always, I'd love to hear your responses.
Shabbat Shalom
Benji
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