Blog/December 2016/Dec 2nd
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December 2nd
This week’s Torah portion tells of the birth of Esau and Jacob. The passage where we learn of Rebekah’s carrying twins is gripping: “And the children struggled together within her; and she said: 'If it be so, wherefore do I live?' And she went to inquire of the LORD”. A midrash (exegetical interpretation) on that passage states that when she passed by a beit midrash (academy of Torah study), Jacob would get excited and try to get out; when she passed by a temple of idolatry, Esau would get excited and try to get out. Obviously, this midrash is not telling us a literal truth, but it is providing a very deep insight.
Maimonides explains that idolatry arose, essentially, from mistaken good intentions. People thought that since God clearly placed the sun in the heavens above us, that the sun was worthy of worship as one of His minions. Eventually this mistaken perception of reality led to complete idolatry, where stones and idols became worshiped, and all manner of perversion became their various modes of worship. All this, from a misunderstanding of reality.
The midrash mentioned above tells us that the tendency to perversion and idolatry lies deep in humankind, but so does the tendency to seek out truth. Later we see that Jacob is not above using twisted methods to achieve his desires, and we likewise see that Esau is not too debased to act properly. Humans have moral agency, and can choose the path they take in life.
The simple fact that humans are indeed moral actors, seems lost on many these days. An entire generation in the USA, Canada, and Britain is being educated to believe that they should be insulated from any malign influence, and that by virtue of their very existence, all good things should be theirs. This, too, is a form of idolatry — a perverted view of reality. For several generations, “moral equivalence” has been taught to Western youth. The fruits of that indoctrination are plainly visible in the fawning praise heaped by many of the West’s leaders on the late, unlamented, “President for Life” of Cuba.
I don’t know if it’s too late to save the West from its delusions and this modern form of idolatry, but it’s not too late to make the attempt to save it.
Of course, we in Israel are not exempt from foolish governmental policies. That’s partly because our governmental ministers apparently need no qualifications to fill their posts.
As for us, we’ve been keeping busy as usual. Sarah just completed her first month of work and is anxiously looking forward to her first paycheck. Esther and I have been working as usual. This week, we made another release of 8th, and announced a “year-end sale”. Feel free to tell your friends!
The rains finally started up yesterday, and the ground is wet and the air is cold and windy. Since we were in Jerusalem with my nephew Chaim and his lovely wife Ariele, I decided I needed to get gloves since I couldn’t feel my fingers. I stopped in a shop and for 10 shekels (about $2.50) I got a nice (obviously cheap) pair of warm gloves. That was the best purchase I’ve made in a long time…
This shabbat, Dinah is joining us. We’ll try:
In honor of the Torah portion, red lentil soup,
homemade ḥallah,
chicken schnitzel,
spicy wings,
stuffed tomatoes,
chard pie,
roasted yams,
veggie cholent,
various salatim,
and carrot cake.
Until next time,
shabbat shalom!
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