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AICIAT

AT

TEMPLE BETH EL

Enough Already!

RISING NEW YORK STARS

Parshat Vayishlach: Genesis 32:4-
36:43; Hosea 11:7-12:12.

MARCY HEISLER AND

I

GOLDRICH ARE SET TO TAKE

BROADWAY BY STORM WITH

THEIR MUSICAL VERSION OF THE

DREW BARRYMORE CINDERELLA

MOVIE EVER AFTER. BUT FIRST,

THEY ARE RETURNING TO

TEMPLE BETH EL TO SING SOME OF

THEIR BEST-LOVED SONGS INCLUDING

TAYLOR, THE LATH' BOY.

• • • • • •
•
•

• 0•• •

SATURID1
DECEMBE

8:00 P.M.

$30 GENERAL ADMISSION, $75 RESERVED
ADMISSION AND $250 CONCIERGE.

II

FOR RESERVATIONS
CALL 248 851-1000 OR GO TO
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PAID RESERVATION DEADLINE - DECEMBER 3.

■

L

TEMPE

BETH EL

1799200

56

November 29 • 2012

n this week's Torah portion, after
two decades of rage and separa-
tion, the biblical brothers Jacob
and Esau reconcile. What is it that,
after so many years of contention,
allows the brothers to
finally face each other?
I believe that the
answer is found in Esau's
response to the gifts
that Jacob brings to
their meeting. As Jacob
approaches Esau with
presents, Esau says, "I
have enough, my brother,
let what you have be
yours:' Up until now, their
relationship has been
characterized by jealousy.
For the first time in their lives, they
can see each other's blessings and
not covet them.
I find this fascinating, especially
considering that the circumstances
of their lives have not changed.
Jacob still has what Esau wanted, the
birthright. And Esau still has what
Jacob wanted, their father's love.
Yet, at this moment of reconcili-
ation, each has come to terms with
his lot. They no longer see each
other as rivals, but rather as fellow
human beings, each one deserving of
a good life.
Sometimes, in life, we look at what
others have and compare ourselves
to them. Comparing leads to covet-
ing and, before long, it's hard to be
happy with what we have.
God knows that this is a problem
for human beings, and that is one of
the reasons for the commandment
to put a mezuzah on the doorposts
of our homes. When you look at a

mezuzah, you will typically find the
Hebrew letter shin on its case. The
shin is there because it is the first
letter of one of God's many names,

Shaddai.

Shaddai is a word that
translates to "that which is
enough:' Having the word
enough" on our doorposts
conveys a powerful mes-
sage to us each time that
we enter our homes. While
there are lots of things we
might like to add to our
lives and our homes, the
word Shaddai on our door-
posts reminds us that what
we already have is really
enough:'
God's name, Shaddai, is especially
important at this time of year when
everywhere we look, we are encour-
aged to buy. The holiday message
that we need to "shop 'til we drop" is
out of sync with the Chanukah story.
After all, our ancestors, the
Maccabees, were sure that the small
jar of oil they found in the Temple
wouldn't last more than one day.
They lit a fire under it anyway and,
against all odds, the oil lasted the
necessary eight days.
One of Chanukah's central mes-
sages then, is that what we think is
"not enough," quite often, really is.
This Shabbat, may we, like Jacob and
Esau, look at all that we have and
understand it is all that we need.

"

"

❑

Rachel Shere is a rabbi at Adat Shalom

Synagogue in Farmington Hills and

also works for the Jewish Hospice and

Chaplaincy Network and serves on the

board of Kadima.