Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts - Va-Yechi - 1.1.2010

JThis week’s parsha is an amazing closure to the first book of the Torah and has several moments that literally still live with us to this day.

Jacob dies in this week’s portion. He blesses his children. What is interesting is that the blessings do not just include hopes and positives for his kids but also addresses many of their mistakes and character flaws. From a practical point of view this may so people understand the positions of the tribes in the future. But I also feel that this reminds us once again that our imperfections are a part of our blessing and in fact part of our Judaism.

The book of Genesis tells many stories of evolution. These evolutionary steps take us from Abraham to the seeds of Israel, from familial feuds and distrust to a family coming together, and from the first steps of the covenant to the rewards and challenges of living our life within the code. All of these transitions are shown. We also see Jewish leadership and action in the world move from being one that allows respect in the world (Abraham) to literally being able to make a difference and save the world (Joseph). So in its final story of evolution Jacob wants to make sure these lessons are implanted in his family and he gives them this with his blessings. Blessing both their strengths and their challenges making sure that they (and we know) that these attributes both make up part of the personal and Jewish identity and evolution.

Two special moments to mention in the words of this weeks parsha:

1) This is where the blessings over the children that we say on Shabbat comes from. It is always a special to be able to look at our children each week and bless them and be appreciative of them. We should take each week and remind our children that we have hopes for them, we are proud of them and we are grateful for both who they are and what they will be.

2) In his blessing Jacob also is clearly concerned that his family continues the legacy of our forefathers. His concerns come though as well as his hopes. His sons reply with one of the key phrases in Jewish Practice today, “Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" - "Hear O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One!". They are saying we hear you Dad and we will continue the work you have done. His response “Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto Le'Olam Va'Ed" - "Blessed is the Name of His glorious Kingdom forever and ever" express the gratitude of knowing that lessons have been passed and that he too is part of something immortal and beyond him. Each day we are given an opportunity with our prayers and actions to remember that we are part of something larger and more connected. The next opportunity you have to say the shema think of the affirmation of faith, action and legacy it represents from this weeks parsha.

So this week we should remember that we are part of a legacy and a chain. One that requires action and therefore mistakes and that these strengths and weakness are part of not only what makes us human, but also Jewish. We are part of the evolution that started in Genesis and as we can see from this week’s portion it is a complicated and wonderful journey. And we have an opportunity to further the evolution and remember the legacy everyday and that truly is a blessing from our forefathers.

Shabbat Shalom

Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts - Va-Yigash - 12.25.2009

This week’s parsha tells the story of the final reunion between Joseph and his brothers. In the story of saving their brother Benyamin the brother show their growth in protecting their family and Joseph shows that he has grown in not acting out a vengeance when he had all of the power and opportunity.

The theme that gets fully reinforced is the concept of working towards completeness. If you look at the evolution of the sibling relationships in the first book of the torah they show an evolution towards completeness. Cain and Abel begin with jealousy, Isaac and Ishmael learn to uncomfortably co-exist, Jacob and Esau learn to love each other and exist in peace but not working together and in this weeks parsha we see the 12 brothers learning to love, forgive and work together completely.

In addition you see the evolution of the Jewish leaders from defining the Jewish people and the covenant to establishing the internal beginnings of the legacy for Israel and finally in Joseph you have a Jewish leader who is also a leader and full member of the outside world while still working in HaShem's direct service for the fulfillment of the people of Israel. The theme of being in the world that was started with Joseph's Great Grandfather (Abraham) has continued to be evolved over the generations.

I think that there are two points that are key that this week is teaching us:

1) That you must not lose one’s connection to HaShem while engaging with the world. It is important to note because the Torah also shows us that Judaism must be experienced with the outside world.

2) That everything is a process or an evolution. And one of the key points to learn from these stories is that mistakes are made by everyone. Our forefathers made mistakes as a part of the evolution towards completeness. Joseph and his brothers made mistakes as well. This week reinforces the fact that these mistakes are a part of the process required by HaShem and are also a key part of the experience of becoming Jewish.

So as we finish up 2009 and think of the year to come we hope for one that allows us to learn and grow, have our mistakes make us better and gives us the opportunity to further our evolution towards our completeness as people in the world, in our family, in our Judaism and ourselves.

Shabbat Shalom

Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts - Miketz - 12.18.2009

This week we see Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and the reunion with his brothers.

What stood out to me reading over the parsha this week (and inspired by a reading by Rabbi Brad Artson) was the need for different types of intelligence for his success. He had the need for some spiritual knowledge and connection to HaShem (with dream interpretation) as well as the practical skills required to run Egypt as the viceroy.

The two sets of knowledge together is what truly allows Joseph to become a leader. We should remember that Joseph had spiritual intelligence for a long time – but it was only when he used other practical skills and types of intelligence to fulfill his position and destiny.

What I think the Torah is teaching us here is that we need to develop multiple skills and types of intelligence to be truly successful. A wholly religious or spiritual view will not get the job done nor will a totally secular view. Even in our oldest texts we are being taught the lesson of the value of action within the real world.

We would also do well to recognize in the real world that different people posses different skills and types of intelligence. And a leaders job is not just to make sure that we have both a spiritual and secular view of the world but also to make sure that different types of skills and intelligence are brought together to make sure that we have a full view of a problem and therefore a full view of a solution.

Let’s remember that it took Joseph using all of his skills and intelligence (as well as the entire nation of Egypt) to achieve his destiny of success and we should look at this as a lesson for ourselves. A lesson to develop ourselves spiritually and secularly as well as recognize the different skills required to achieve a goal.

Shabbat Shalom