Weekly Mission: Parshat Toldot- Curve Ball
My first question is how come turkey and stuffing go so well together?
In this weeks parsha we learn about the famous Kinyan (transaction) between Jacob and Esav for the status of first born. We learn about the sibling rivalry of the brothers that eventually led to Jacob fleeing for his life. Above all, there is one specific thing that we are constantly learning in the Book of Berieshis that keeps me thinking:
"I am the God of your father Abraham, fear not, for I am with you, I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant"
We are incessantly reminded by HaShem that we are going to forever inherit Aaretz Yisroel (Israel) and that we will always be in existent. HaShem constantly blesses our forefathers but then the obvious question is why? I mean don't you think Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov could get the hint after hearing it once?
A life lesson…
We are constantly confronted with hardships and struggles in our lives… sometimes things don't add up and we are left asking ourselves “why?” We see pain and struggle throughout the Torah. We have to ask, how can HaShem promise he will bless us "with the fatness of the earth" if times like the Holocaust happened? It could leave thinking that this blessing that was once instilled in our forefathers has faded.
So why does HaShem constantly remind us of this blessing? EXACTLY for this reason! In times when it's hard, when we are uncertain… this blessing is meant to remind us that even in the hardest of times HaShem has made us a promise that he has kept and will continue to keep.
How do we respond to Mumbai? How do we make things better for ourselves? How do we move forward when everything in front of us looks so weary? I know we all have a sense of despair and despondency due to all the catastrophic events that never seem to cease, but we must realize that all these events and obstacles are etched into our very existence.
Before Daniel Pearl was brutally murdered by terrorists, he said to them (and us) on live video footage “I am Jewish, My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish. I AM JEWISH!” What was he trying to prove? What was he doing telling the people who held a gun to his chest? He was making it clear that despite what you do to me, I have a promise. It’s not from someone who I can’t trust. It’s not from my friend who I have known for a couple of years. Its not from a sibling or a prestigious Rabbi, it’s from G-D!
"I am the God of your father Abraham, fear not, for I am with you, I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant"
He is saying "Don't forget in these hard times that I am with you, and you will elevate My world through your actions. Hold on tight… you have no idea what's coming!"
This week I will try to: remember that HaShem throws me curve balls to remind me of the promise that he has given us. I will realize that the sun must go down to rise again. I will recognize that HaShem in his infinite wisdom has a plan for you….
Smile Wide!
Shabbat Shalom!
In this weeks parsha we learn about the famous Kinyan (transaction) between Jacob and Esav for the status of first born. We learn about the sibling rivalry of the brothers that eventually led to Jacob fleeing for his life. Above all, there is one specific thing that we are constantly learning in the Book of Berieshis that keeps me thinking:
"I am the God of your father Abraham, fear not, for I am with you, I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant"
We are incessantly reminded by HaShem that we are going to forever inherit Aaretz Yisroel (Israel) and that we will always be in existent. HaShem constantly blesses our forefathers but then the obvious question is why? I mean don't you think Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov could get the hint after hearing it once?
A life lesson…
We are constantly confronted with hardships and struggles in our lives… sometimes things don't add up and we are left asking ourselves “why?” We see pain and struggle throughout the Torah. We have to ask, how can HaShem promise he will bless us "with the fatness of the earth" if times like the Holocaust happened? It could leave thinking that this blessing that was once instilled in our forefathers has faded.
So why does HaShem constantly remind us of this blessing? EXACTLY for this reason! In times when it's hard, when we are uncertain… this blessing is meant to remind us that even in the hardest of times HaShem has made us a promise that he has kept and will continue to keep.
How do we respond to Mumbai? How do we make things better for ourselves? How do we move forward when everything in front of us looks so weary? I know we all have a sense of despair and despondency due to all the catastrophic events that never seem to cease, but we must realize that all these events and obstacles are etched into our very existence.
Before Daniel Pearl was brutally murdered by terrorists, he said to them (and us) on live video footage “I am Jewish, My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish. I AM JEWISH!” What was he trying to prove? What was he doing telling the people who held a gun to his chest? He was making it clear that despite what you do to me, I have a promise. It’s not from someone who I can’t trust. It’s not from my friend who I have known for a couple of years. Its not from a sibling or a prestigious Rabbi, it’s from G-D!
"I am the God of your father Abraham, fear not, for I am with you, I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant"
He is saying "Don't forget in these hard times that I am with you, and you will elevate My world through your actions. Hold on tight… you have no idea what's coming!"
This week I will try to: remember that HaShem throws me curve balls to remind me of the promise that he has given us. I will realize that the sun must go down to rise again. I will recognize that HaShem in his infinite wisdom has a plan for you….
Smile Wide!
Shabbat Shalom!
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