Words of Wisdom for Shabbat – Toldot

In Hebrew class, my students plotted, wrapped their hands in “fur,” shuddered and howled, as they dramatized the actions of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau in this week’s Torah Portion, Toldot. After re-enacting the story of Rebekah’s and Jacob’s plot to trick Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob, rather than to his first-born son, Esau, they voiced some of the questions that Toldot raises.
“Why was Rebekah so determined to have Jacob rather than Esau receive Isaac’s blessing?”
“How could God allow such devious and dubious behavior on the part of three of our Ancestors whom we honor in the Avot V’Imahot Prayer?”

Responses to such difficult questions may be found in the commentary which accompanies the Torah Text. The following are selections from the “Gleanings” commentary section following Toldot in The Torah – A Modern Commentary; W. Gunther Plaut, General Editor.
The Torah – A Modern Commentary was published by the Union for Reform Judaism Press (2005).

“The Dilemma of Divine Choice”
” Apparently even God must select imperfect instruments to fulfill His purposes. He must choose between Jacob – a man who desires the birthright so deeply he will cheat to secure it – and Esau who so lightly esteems it that he forfeits the birthright for a bowl of lentils. Jacob’s calculated cunning must be weighed against Esau’s undisciplined craving for immediate self-gratification. Working with ‘human material’ involved God in a difficult but inescapable choice, and God decides: It is better to care too much than too little.”
SAMUEL E. KARFF

“The Voice of Jacob”
“When Isaac said, ‘The voice is the voice of Jacob, yet the hands are the hands of Esau’ (27:22), he spoke prophetically. ‘The voice of Jacob’ means learning and truth; ‘the hands of Esau’ means force and violence. As long as the voice of Jacob is heard in the houses of prayer and learning, the hands of Esau will not prevail against him.”
MIDRASH

Shabbat Shalom Rest and Re-new

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Ronni Sims

Ronni has been a Jewish educator since Moses was in preschool (almost!). She has had the pleasure of teaching all age groups in a variety of formal and informal settings, as well as directing a Jewish Teacher Resource Center. While teaching in a Jewish Day School, Ronni coached an award-winning Odyssey of the Mind creative problem solving team.Ronni was an active participant in the former Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education (CAJE), where she held leadership positions including Network Chair and Conference Co-Chair of CAJE 29 at Hofstra University. She currently teaches Hebrew at the Congregation Albert Religious School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Talmud teaches: “The Torah cannot be learned unless it is learned among friends.” Ronni views blogging on JCast as such a learning opportunity.

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