Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
November 12-13, 2021 / 9 Kislev 5782
Shabbat Vayetze
Torah - Genesis 28:10-32:3 / Haftarah - Hosea 12:13-14:10
“Finding God’s Blessing Along the Way”
When darkeness comes to our lives, how do we keep moving forward? Jacob had stolen both Esau’s birthright and first-born blessing and Esau was not pleased. In this week’s portion we find Jacob running for his life, fleeing the wrath of his brother. Jacob knew that he had done wrong and thus, in his haste, he was reduced to nothing. As he made camp for the night, his pillow was a stone. Yet, it was in that place called Bet El – House of God – that Jacob received God’s blessing and reassurance that his life would be significant and consequential.
We are still in the grips of a worldwide pandemic that causes daily worry and concern. The economy is hurt. Our healthcare workers are exhausted. First responders are burning out. Many people still refuse vaccination in our country while so many throughout the developing world can’t get the vaccines they so desperately want. How do we hold on?
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan taught that God is the power that makes for salvation - the ability to make our lives meaningful. He taught that the way to find God is to start behaving godly – to conduct our lives in the fulfillment of Jewish values and ethics, to live in partnership with God. When living in difficult times, we must become our best selves and serve others to the best of our ability. Like Jacob, may we find God’s blessing along the way.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
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