The theme this week is fear and how it blocks your vision of what must be done. The song is the same as last week because it is on this theme as is the reading. Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com) mjstrassfeld@gmail.com
Last week’s Torah portion was about Jacob going out (va-yetze) and leaving the familiar behind. This week we read about his journey back home. A lot happens on the way back: wrestling in the night with a mysterious being, reuniting with his brother Esau, and the rape of Dinah. Has Jacob changed?
The word va-yira/he was afraid appears only three times in the Torah. Jacob is afraid when he wakes up and realizes that the place where he dreamt of angels on a ladder is a holy space. This week, Jacob is very afraid when the messengers he has sent (va-yishlakh) laden with gifts to his brother return with the information that Esau has 400 warriors with him. (The only other time va-yira appears is when Moses is afraid because it is clear that his killing of the Egyptian slave master has become public knowledge.)
Jacob is a person who has trouble trusting anyone whether it is God or his brother. The only person he foolishly trusts is Laban who proceeds to trick him into marrying Leah instead of his beloved Rachel. Laban and Jacob are very alike in their being untrustworthy.
In last year’s newsletter on this Torah portion, I pointed out that Esau and Jacob seem to reconcile. Jacob accepts Esau’s invitation to join his camp on their journey. Yet, the text makes clear that as soon as Esau heads south, Jacob will take his family north. In the biblical text, Jacob and Esau will only meet again at Isaac’s funeral.
Jacob is very involved in seeking for signs of what will be. He has a number of encounters with God or with angels. Our portion begins with him sending out messengers (malakhim, the same word used for angels) to scout out his brother’s intentions. One can imagine him playing out many scenarios of his coming encounter with his brother. Jacob’s fears lead him to make mistakes in judgment. What is sad is his inability to trust not just his brother’s warm welcome, but his own feelings of loving connection to his brother.
If only Jacob could leave behind all the distracting and encumbering thoughts and stories. If he could, then va-yira/he was afraid, could be transformed to va-yar/and he saw. Then va-yishlakh malakhim—instead of sending out people to spy on and bribe his brother. Jacob could have sent out angels.
Intention/kavana for the week
After everything that happens to Jacob in this Torah portion, God tells him (Gen. ch. 35) to go to Bethel, a place of holiness, and remain there (literally shev sham/sit there or meditate. Jacob tells his household to get rid of their alien gods and purify themselves and change their clothes meaning get rid of the fears and the stories that mislead, try to cleanse yourself from past mistakes and embrace the newness of change.
A good kavanah at any time.
Song:
gam ki elekh
be-gai tzalmavet
lo ira ra
ki attah imadi
Though I journey in the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear for you accompany me.
Psalm 23:4
