The Cultural Commission of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
invites you to attend the annual
LAKER CHANUKAH CONCERT
a gala concert of cantorial music
for Chanukah and the synagogue
over the elder. And all subse-
quent incidents merely con-
firmed the correctness of this
divine prophecy.
Isaac can no longer see —
perhaps he doesn't want to
see because ever since the
near-sacrifice on Mt. Moriah
he has seen too much — and
he is subject to Esau's wiles,
the hunter who ensnares peo-
ple as well as animals.
Knowing the truth, Rebec-
ca commands her reluctant
son to pretend that he is
someone he is not. The tasty
morsels she prepares herself,
and she then provides Jacob
with Esau's clothes, covering
his smooth flesh with goat
skins.
Though near death and
blind, Isaac is suspicious. He
recognizes Jacob's voice but is
confused by Jacob's touch,
which feels like Esau's. In the
end, however, Isaac eats and
drinks, drawing his son close-
ly as he blesses Jacob with
". . dew of the heaven and
the fat of the earth . . ." [Gen.
27:28]
As Jacob departs, Esau ar-
rives, bearing the venison.
But it is too late. Apparently,
blessings are not mere words
mechanically uttered. Once
blessed, Jacob becomes the
possessor of his blessing. Esau
cries out a from the depths,
beseeching his father for one
leftover blessing, which Isaac
haltingly comes up with, but
which fails to appease Esau.
Leaving the tent, he
declares his intention of kill-
ing Jacob when their father
shall die, and Rebecca,
overhearing Esau, sends
Jacob away to her family in
Haran.
Why does the 'Farah see fit
to tell us that the founder of
the nation of Israel, the
patriarch of the 12 tribes, has
a past mired in the mud of
Esau's anger and rage? Why
is the patriarch driven to
deceive his father, presented
with the characteristic of
truth?
Our world is not perfect. We
may know exactly what it
takes to perfect things, but
there are dozens of stumbling
blocks along the way. Jacob's
nemesis was his twin brother.
Certainly, if Esau had never
been born, it might appear
that Jacob's task would have
been easier.
But Jacob's life carves out
the path his descendants will
face as they flee from their
own Esaus. "The acts of the
patriarchs foretell the destiny
of their children." The history
of the Jewish people has been
filled with one frustration
after another, sufffering and
rejections, and often lies and
deceits in order to retain a
Modicum of what they de-
served, in order to survive.
Jacob becomes the epitome
of truth not because he is
born with a genetic code
which makes him squirm
every time he lies, but
because of what he learns in
a world which is filled with
deceit.
Prior to the night of the
deception, we learn two
things about Esau. He
despises his birthright, and
he marries two Hittite
women. Undoubtedly, Esau is
morally crippled. The
greatest deception would be
his being rewarded with the
birthright. Then he would
have been a living lie. And if
Isaac was blind to this fun-
damental truth, then Jacob
must wrest what is rightful-
ly his through an act of decep-
tion. No, the end does not
justify the means, and Jacob
must bear the consequences
of his trickery. He is in turn
deceived by both Laban (who
gave him the elder daughter
instead of the younger) as
well as by his own sons, (who
tell him that his beloved son
Joseph has been mutilated by
wild animals). But the end
does necessitate certain
means, a lie which — in an
imperfect world — can stand
for the best truth under the
circumstances.
Similarly, we cannot yearn
for an age of peace, a mes-
sianic era of truth, unless we
are willing to wage war
against evil and aggression.
But being human means
confronting paradoxes. Rabbi
Chaim Soloveichick of Brisk
was once approached with a
difficult question concerning
a court case in front of a Gen-
tile judge. The plaintiff had
just discovered his opponent
had bribed the judge. If he did
nothing, a fair trial was im-
possible. His only chance was
to give the judge the same
amount the other party had
given.
It may come as a surprise to
some, but despite the strong
prohibition against bribery,
in this instance Rabbi Chaim
ruled that the plaintiff was
required to come up with the
payment. Only with such a lie
would both become equalized,
and give the opportunity for
truth to emerge.
What Jacob's life teaches is
that sometimes the truth
takes on the appearance of a
lie. ❑
.
SUNDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10th, 1989
Featuring three outstanding cantors
CANTOR
ABRAHAM LUBIN
Anshe Emet Synagogue
Chicago, Illinois
CANTOR
PAUL KOWARSKY
Beth Tzedec Congregation
Toronto, Ontario
CANTOR
CHAIM NAJMAN
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and
THE SHAAREY ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE CHOIR
Directed by Mr. Eugene Zweig
Accompanied by Dr. Sholom Kalib
Refreshments will be served
Admission is Free
Open to the entire Jewish community
THE JULIUS CHAJES
MUSIC FUND CONCERT SERIES
presented by
r ug JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
Friends, Colleagues and Former Students of the late Julius Chajes celebrate his genius with concerts featuring ...
Cantor
Alberto Mizrahi
in concert
Sunday, December 10, 1989
at 3:30 p.m.
Jewish Community Center
Maple/Drake Building
1989-1990 50th Anniversary Season
For Season Pass and Ticket Information call Annette Chajes at the Center 661-1000
Admission: $7.00 / Members: $6.00 / Senior Citizens & Students: $5.00
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
55