Torah Portion

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DIAMONDS

native perspective. He explains that
Yaakov dwells in two types of tents: the
tent of the shepherd that he uses to raise
his family's flock, and also a second "tent
to prevent wandering," in which he
practices self-evaluation to recognize his
Creator and sanctify God's glory.
e all read the statistics. We
According to S'forno, Yaakov, in his
know the numbers.
search for religiosity and spirituality,
With intermarriage
doesn't seclude himself from the world.
"steady" at about 50 per-
He engages the world head-on and helps
cent nationwide, (a Pyrrhic victory at
his family survive. At the same time, he
best), we wonder and worry about our
also realizes that if he focuses on worldli-
collective future. Yet, we sometimes like
ness full-time, he also abandons his rela-
to hide behind impersonal and imprecise
tionship with God. So, Yaakov creates
data. "Just numbers," we say.
the first dual-curriculum of sec-
"They don't say anything
ular and religious studies.
about me and the way that I
Appropriately, (as the first Jew),
live my life."
he attends the very first Jewish
So let's personalize the
day school.
issue. Sooner or later, each of
Without a doubt, intensive
us must ask some difficult
Jewish education remains the
and frightening questions
most and very often only effec-
about ourselves and our fami-
tive tool we have in our spiritu-
lies: Will my children and
al arsenal against assimilation.
grandchildren practice
Hebrew school just isn't
RABBI
Judaism? Will they marry
enough.
How can we expect
REUVEN
inside the faith? Will they
our
children
to know and
SPOLTER
even be Jews at all?
appreciate
the
richness of
Special to the
Odds are that one out of
Jewish
tradition
by forcing
Jewish News
every two people reading this
them to attend after-school
article this Shabbat will
classes (when they're already
answer no to all three of these questions.
tired and restless) for four hours a week?
What did you answer? And, most
What message do we convey when we
importantly, what can you do about it?
allocate more of our children's after-
Not surprisingly, our forefathers face
school hours to dance or art or soccer
precisely this same question. Yitzchak
than we do to their Judaism?
and Rivkah, finally blessed with the
Moreover, intensive Jewish education
birth of twin sons, confront the difficult
doesn't force us to sacrifice good secular
task of raising two very different chil-
education either. Yaakov dwelled in both
dren.
tents, and our children do to. Graduates
Eisav, a fiery redhead (with a temper
of Hillel, Akiva, the Jewish Academy of
to match), grows into a towering speci-
Metropolitan Detroit and every other
men who enjoys hunting in the wild.
Jewish day school across the country reg-
Yaakov, on the other hand, timid and
ularly earn_ admission to the finest secu-
bookish, prefers the sanctuary of shelter-
lar colleges and institutions of higher
ing tent to the frenzy of the fields.
learning.
Why do they grow up so differently?
And then, almost always, they marry
Why does Yaakov ultimately choose a
Jewish spouses, raise Jewish children,
proper wife (actually wives) and transmit
and happily practice Judaism for the
the torch of spirituality on to his own
rest of their lives. ❑
children, while Eisav breaks his parents'
hearts by marring a local idolatrous
woman? Without a doubt, we must look
first to Yaakov's education.
The Torah describes Yaakov not as
just as a tent-dweller, but rather as a
Discuss some of the biblical exam-
yosheiv ohalim, "a dweller of tents," in
ples of sibling rivalry (Cain-Abel,
the plural.
Ishmael-Isaac, Eisav-Yaakov, Joseph
What are these two tents? Rashi
and his brothers) and what dangers
explains that these two tents are the
lie in jealousy, mistrust and hate.
houses of Shem and Ever, the mythical
Since there is no reprimand issued
yeshivah our forefathers attend to devote
to Yaakov when the deception is
themselves to spirituality and godliness.
noted, did Isaac really welcome the
Yet, S'forno provides us*with an alter-
decextion, being glad with the hap-

Shabbat Toledot:
Genesis 25:19-28:9;
Malachi 1:1-2:7.

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