TORAH

We Have Eyes,
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Shabbat Toledot: Genesis 25:19-28:9;
I Samuel 20:18-42.

T

he Torah portion describes
are. We look upon others as individuals
Isaac, the patriarch, in his
created to serve our needs and to pro-
last days, about to bestow the
vide for our comfort.
blessing of the birthright to his son.
Dorothy Parker was known for her
"And it came to pass that when Isaac
caustic wit. She was once at a cock-
was old and his eyes were dim so that
tail party at which someone praised
he could not see, he called Esau unto
another prominent woman by saying,
him."
"She is very kind to her inferiors." Ms.
Isaac is about to make a terrible
Parker then asked bluntly, "Where does
mistake. He intends to give
she find them?"
the blessing, the spiri-
Stripped of its malice, the
tual heritage that had been
question points to a truth that
handed down from his
applies to all of us. Where do
father Abraham, to Esau, an
we find our inferiors?
unworthy son. Esau was a
Indeed, isn't there some-
hunter, a man of violence
thing perverse in us when we
who could not fulfill the
begin to divide people into
moral demands of that way
categories of superior and
of life which Abraham had
inferior? Are we not obliged
Rabbi I resin
begun. It was Jacob, the
to consider other persons
Gron er
younger twin, who could
simply as human beings and
properly achieve this task.
Special to the
accord them the consider-
Jewish News
But Isaac was partial to
ation and respect due them
by virtue of this towering
Esau because Isaac did
not recognize the truth.
endowment?
Rabbi Eliezer says: "'Isaac did not
Finally, many of us are often of lim-
see' means that he did not see with the
ited vision when we look upon Judaism.
`Divine spirit' what would be the char-
For some, Judaism is a meaningless
acter of Esau in his later years, how he
collection of antiquated rituals. For
would become a marauder, a man of
some, it is a gigantic relief of society
cruelty, a murderer."
— engaged in an unending series
Isaac lacked not only sight, but
of campaigns. For others, it is a folk
insight. He was deficient not only in
superstition in which no well-educated
vision, but also in understanding. He
person can believe. For still others, it is
was blind to that truth which he should a pleasant although innocuous pastime,
have known, that Jacob was the proper
suitable only for the very young or the
very old.
recipient of the most precious gift that
he, the father, could bestow.
We must recapture a different vision,
one in which we perceive Judaism as
This defect is universal. In some
degree, all of us are limited in this
having presented the highest ideals the
capacity of vision. But we ought to rec-
world has known — peace and justice
ognize these limitations and attempt to
and brotherhood. Judaism offers us a
way of life based on faith and reason, a
overcome them. Unless we do, we shall
way of holiness and truth that can bless
do injury to ourselves and those whom
we love; we shall deny ourselves the
each day and hallow every act. Li
achievement of that potential that we
Irwin Groner is rabbi emeritus of
could otherwise attain.
A great discrepancy often exists
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland
County.
between what we are and what we
think we are. We view ourselves as fine,
Conversations
caring, loving, considerate people. But
Discuss how our understanding
there are occasional moments when
of people, relationships and val-
we discover that we have remarkable
ues is often distorted, confused
capacities to be unpleasant, rude,
or imperfect. How do we fail to
unloving and egotistical.
recognize that which we should
Conversely, we often see others as
see, grasp and understand?
they are not and fail to see them as they

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November 8 • 2007

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