To Life
r)
17.?
PORTION
Family Feast
Or Food Fight?
Shabbat Toldot:
Genesis 25:19-28:9;
Malachi 1:1-2:7.
F
right will stick to him.
ood is featured
Apparently, Isaac does
in this week's
not know about the proph-
narrative about
ecy made to Rebecca in
the divided family of
which God decreed that
Isaac and Rebecca.
Jacob would be superior.
For a bowl of soup,
Isaac is also ignorant about
the first-born twin Esau
the lentil soup exchange,
trades his birthright to
and he certainly does not
Jacob. In exchange for a
know about the future
free-range venison steak,
threats of violence from
Isaac offers his elder son
Rabbi Daniel S.
Esau. What he knows now
a blessing. With a steak
Nevins
is that Esau needs a mitz-
from the domesticated
Special to the
vah — an opportunity to
herd, Rebecca success-
Jewish News
shine, to earn his blessing.
fully switches the boys
Sadly, the tender
and their blessings.
moment of family feast
What follows is a bit-
becomes an ugly food fight. Tragically,
ter howl of rage from Esau, a violent
this is not the last time that a meal
tremble of fear in Isaac and Rebecca's
panicked plea for Jacob to flee. Food is leads to mayhem.
Many familieS gathering this week
the key to Toldot, but it isn't always a
for their Thanksgiving feast are anx-
blessing.
ious about the emergence of dormant
It is easy to understand the power
•
conflicts. What should be a time of
of the lentil stew for Esau, returning
unity and gratitude can often devolve
famished from a futile hunt. No, he
into a drama of jealousy and bitter-
wouldn't have died without that bowl
of soup; but you can see that he was in ness.
We look to Isaac and Rebecca and
no position to negotiate a better deal.
ask what can be learned from their
Esau's appetite is his undoing.
difficulties. We should give each per-
Yet I have long wondered about
son an important task and appropri-,
Isaac. Why does he demand fresh
ate recognition. We should pair our
meat from Esau before blessing him?
Isaac tells Esau to go hunt some game, gratitude to God with appreciation for
our family. May God bless our families
"then prepare a dish for me such as I
with peace. 5
like, and bring it to me to eat, so that
my being may bless you before I die."
Daniel Nevins is a rabbi at Adat Shalom
Why does Isaac need this meal in
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
order to bless Esau?
A simple explanation is that, in his
terminal state, Isaac needs a good
COnversations
meal in order to gain strength enough
How should Rebecca have
to offer a proper blessing. Yet surely
acted to fulfill the prophecy?
something from around the farm
Could she haVe averted conflict
would have sufficed!
between her sons, or was that
I prefer the explanation given by
inevitable?
Ovadiah Sforno (Italy, 1470-1550):
"Isaac wanted Esau to provide delica-
cies so that Esau would be busy in the
mitzvah of honoring his father. In this
way the blessing would take effect."
Isaac gives Esau a challenging task in
the hope that the blessing of birth-
34
November 23 • 2006
D GES -
Memorial Candlelighting
The Lakes area chapter of the
Compassionate Friends, a national
self-help support group for families
grieving the death of a child, will light
candles on Sunday, Dec. 10, in sym-
bolic remembrance.
This is the 10th annual Worldwide
Candlelighting. The local interfaith
candlelighting will be part of a special
nondenominational service at 7 p.m.
at Shephard of the Lakes Lutheran
Church, 2905 S. Commerce Rd.,
Wolverine Lake.
It will feature
music by Jeff
Tessler, read-
ings, poems
and an open-
ing address by
Compassionate
Friends
National
Executive
Director Pat
Loder.
Candles
Evan Otis
are first lit at
7 p.m., local
time, just west of the International
Date Line. As candles burn down in
one time zone, they are lit in the next,
creating a 24-hour wave of light as
the observance continues around the
world. The theme: "That their light
may always shine."
"The period from Thanksgiving
through New Year is an extremely
difficult time of the year for families
grieving the death of a child;' explains
Lakes area chapter leader David Otis,
who is Jewish. He volunteers his time
in memory of his son, Evan Tyler Otis,
who died at the age of 21/2 in 1998.
The national TCF Web site, www.
compassionatefriends.org., will feature
a remembrance book Dec. 10 for fami-
lies to post tributes.
To contact the Lakes area chapter of
the Compassionate Friends, call David
Otis, (248) 738-2612.
Muslim Voices Gather
The American Jewish Committee
Metropolitan Detroit Chapter and Adat
Shalom Synagogue in Farmington
Hills will host a public forum featuring
a local Muslim scholar, an imam and
two community leaders.
The presentation will be 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 7, at Adat Shalom.
Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's direc-
tor of interreligious affairs and the
Heilbrunn Institute for International
Interreligious Understanding, will
serve as the moderator.
The panel will consist of Imam
Mohammad Mardini of the American
Muslim Center; Professor Saeed Khan,
Department of Near East and Asian
Studies at Wayne State University
and Institute of Social Policy and
Understanding, Detroit; Victor
Begg, chairman, Council of Islamic
Organizations of Michigan; and
Najah Bazzy, of the Islamic Center of
America.
There is no charge but reservations
are recommended. For information,
contact the AJCommittee, (248) 646-
7686 or detroit@ajc.org .
Women's Day Of Learning
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit will hold its annual Women's
Day of Learning 1-4:45 p.m. Sunday,
Dec. 3, at Yeshivat Akiva, 21100 W. 12
Mile, Southfield.
"Ethics of the Mothers" will bring
together women for a day of study, dis-
cussion and camaraderie with keynote
speaker Lori Palatnik. She will speak
on "Jewish Women, Who We Are, and
Where Are We Going?"
Participants will study in two
breakout sessions with local rabbis
and scholars, including Rabbi Sara
O'Donnel Adler, Rabbi Lauren Berkun,
Dr. Janet Snider, Vardina Robinson,
Cobi Sacerdoti and Rena Spolter.
The $25 cost includes refresh-
ments (dietary laws observed).
Preregistration is requested; walk-ins
are welcome. For information, call
Dale Rubin, (248) 203-1520 or e-mail
rubin@jfmd.org.
Support For Moms
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, health care pro-
fessionals from Huron Valley-Sinai
Hospital will present practical strate-
gies for mothers at "Super Heroes ...
Super Moms," a free program at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield. Participants can attend the
entire program or sessions of interest.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. for
the 10 a.m.-4 p.m. program. RSVP by
Nov. 30 online at www.lvsh.org or by
phone at (248) 937-4000. A $5 lunch
can be ordered when registering.
Chanukah Potluck
The Birmingham Temple will com-
memorate Chanukah with a potluck
dinner followed by a family holiday
celebration 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.
The dinner will include potato
latkes provided by the temple, located
at 28611 W. 12 Mile, Farmington Hills.
RSVP by Dec. 18: (248) 477-1410 or
e-mail info@birminghamtemple.org .