brag about the victory. And, Moses
— God made you stammer.
Moses: W'W'What
s's's'stam'm'm'mer?
Isaac: (SOFTLY, FALLING
BACK TO A NO-ENERGY LEVEL)
Well, it doesn't matter.
Narrator: At this point, Nurse
Aaron re-enters the waiting room.
Aaron: Is everyone comfortable?
I want everyone to feel good. Here
Jacob, let me fix the pillow under
your leg. Isn't that nice?
Jacob: (A GROWL).
Aaron: And how is everything
for you, Moses?
Moses: 1'1'1'1'1_
Aaron: Don't worry.
Moses: B'B'B'ut...
Aaron: I understand.
Moses: C'C'C'C'C'ould y'y'y'y...
Aaron: Don't exert yourself —
I'll bring a nice magazine. Oh,
Isaac, your cute little sheep made a
mess all over the floor, but I'll clean
it up and bring him some straw.
(ASIDE) No rest for a suffering
servant.
Isaac: Aaron, don't put yourself
out — I'll do it, just get me some
paper towels.
Aaron: Oh, Isaac, it's no bother
at all. After all, God provided me to
take care of all your needs.
Isaac: (YELLING) Just leave it.
(HE PAUSES, THEN ADDS SOFTLY
AS IF HE HAS GIVEN UP). I don't
want any more help from God. I've
had enough of God's help. Just
leave me alone.
Aaron: It's not good for you to
feel that way. That's not the right
way for you to be thinking. God has
planned everything perfectly.
Jacob: Some perfectly. I had to
go out, cheat all kinds of people.
And who do I really wind up
cheating? Myself!
It wasn't God's fault, I had to
go out — I had to challenge this
stranger — everything that has
happened in my life is my fault —
but having this game leg is anything
but perfect for me.
What good is a crippled
shepherd? If this is the way I am —
what's the point?
Aaron: Jacob, you've got to
think positively. God does know
what is right and best. You're
special — that's what makes you a
God wrestler — God knew you had
the strength to show people how to
live with suffering.
Jacob: You mean that if I wasn't
special, I'd still be able to walk
okay?

figuring out. Let's just make peace.
Moses: (SLOWLY, TAKING
CONTROL) Will all of you please
stop putting words in my mouth. I've
learned from God. God has put
words in me. Listen to what I've
learned (INSERT KEY TEXTS, AS
DESIRED).
"You can therefore see that I
am placing before you a blessing
and a curse." Deuteronomy 11:6.
"And God said: `Hinei, I have
put before you life, the blessing and
death, the curse — therefore
choose life." Deuteronomy 30:15.
Don't you understand? God
didn't do this to us — nature did.
What God did was give us the
power to choose life and live with it.
Isaac: Jacob, you know what's
wrong with you — you've been so
busy wrestling with God and fighting
with people that you won't let God
or people help you. Nobody's
perfect — boy do I know that. What
you need is strength, not anger.
Jacob: And you've got to stop
blaming God for everything. Your
father made a choice. The decision
to serve God, and the decision to
spare your life was his choice about
our life.
Narrator: At that moment, a
phone rings in the outer office.
Aaron runs to answer it.

Aaron: You don't understand.
Think of it as being for the best.
Now you can't run around all the
time — you spend more time at
home with the wife and your
thirteen kids. Now you're a better
father — it's made you a better
patriarch.
Jacob: (QUIETLY) That's
obscene.
Isaac: (WITH EMOTION) Jacob,
please don't blame yourself; it's not
your fault — it's God's fault. God is
all-powerful and all-responsible.
Moses: STOP THAT — You are
are all wrong. Aaron, you defend
God — making everything too all
right. Isaac, you blame God — and
make God evil. Jacob, you play God
— and make yourself all-powerful.
(PAUSE) L'L'L'L'ook at
m'm'm'me. I've s's'stut't'tered since
birth. I'm the one who is supposed
to speak God's words, and I
situ'stu'stuter.
Jacob: But, Moses, can't you
see you did it to yourself? You were
the one who picked up the coal and
put it in your mouth. You're
responsible.
Isaac: God tests people. God
tested my father; God tested me.
God is responsible for all of this.
Aaron: Boys, we can't know
why God does things. It's not worth

Aaron: Yes, your Lordship. I'll
tell them. Gentlemen, I think you
can see God now.
Moses: That's okay, I think
we've already been helped. Guys,
let's get going.
Aaron: Jacob, you can lean on
me.
Moses: Take my hand Isaac, I'll
lead.
Jacob: Come on, sheep —
we're going.
All: (SINGING) It's a long way
to Tipperary...
Sheep: BA'A'A'A

Discussion Questions

1. How did Isaac explain why he
went blind?
2. How did Jacob explain why he
became lame?
3. How did Moses explain why he
stuttered?
4. How did Aaron explain these
disabilities?
5. Why are people disabled?
6. Does being disabled mean that
you are bad or evil?
7. Is physical perfection a criterion
for being special in the eyes of
God or people?

Reprinted with permission,
Torah Aura Productions, 1987

Puzzle Answers

PUZZLE BY JUDY SILBERG LOEBL

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