Vayishlach tells the story of Jacob preparing to meet his brother, Esau after years of estrangment. The night before the fateful reunion is to take place, Jacob has an encounter with a strange being. They wrestle until dawn at which point the mysterious being – perhaps an angel, perhaps an avatar of Jacob’s own insecurities – states: “Let me go for dawn is breaking.” Jacob lets him go only after he receives both a new name – Israel, and a blessing. But he doesn’t emerge unscathed. His hip socket is damaged and he limps into his new life.
Jacob bids Laban farewell
And moves on to where Esau dwells
A strange man he does fight
Till the morning’s sunlight
And receives a new name, Yisrael
Rabbi Black is Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado. Prior to moving to Denver, he served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010,and as Assistant then Associate Rabbi of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987- 1996. He is married and has two children.Rabbi Joe Black is one of the most popular Jewish contemporary artists in the United States. He has been a featured performer at the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education (CAJE) Conference as well as the Biennial Conventions of the Union for Reform Judaism. He has shared his music with hundreds of Jewish communities around the United States and Canada. He also has been featured in many acoustic music venues around the country. Rabbi Black has been honored as one of the “Top Ten Artists” in both the categories of “Jewish Children’s Music” and “Male, Adult Contemporary Jewish Music” by Moment Magazine and TARA Publications. His recordings have received accolades from sources as diverse asThe New York Times, Haddasah Magazine, Parent’s Choice, The American Library Journal and Kids First: The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video. While living in Chicago, he hosted the Emmy award winning television program, The Magic Door on WBBM TV.
Latest posts by Rabbi Joe Black (see all)
- Vayikra Limerick - March 14, 2013
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