am ARCADIA Home Care & Staffing Home Care at the Highest Standard A full service agency providing quality care for your loved ones. • Live-In or Hourly • No minimum hours • Complimentary Assessment • Ongoing Care Coordination • All employees are bonded & insured Caregivers Assist With: Behind The Veil Parshat Vayeitzei: Genesis 28:10-32:3; Hosea 12:13-14:10. B efore the start of a Jewish wed- giving him Esau's blessing functioned the ding, there is a brief ceremony same way. called bedekken in which the Jacob took advantage of Isaac, who groom lowers a veil over his bride's face. couldn't see the face in front of him. Jacob One explanation hearkens back to this was taken advantage of, when he couldn't week's Torah portion, Vayeitzei. Jacob has see the face in front of him. fallen in love with Rachel, but uninten- We all walk through life wearing veils tionally marries Leah after Laban hides of one sort or another. We have private his elder daughter behind a veil. To rec- lives. We share inside jokes. We hide tify the problem, our modern groom low- behind a computer. There is nothing ers the veil only after checking to make wrong with making a distinction between sure he is standing with his betrothed. our public and private personas, but even The ceremony begs an obvi- when our intent is not to deceive, ous question: Given that Jacob we sometimes do so. made such a terrible mistake, Which is why the fleeting moment of lifting a veil can be why do we utilize a veil at all? If we are to learn from Torah, why so powerful. Bride and groom not simply eliminate the source say to one another, even though of Jacob's error? veils are part of life, we will strive to make this relationship holy One answer is that the veil also reminds us of Jacob's through the courage of openness. Rabbi Mark mother, Rebecca, who famously Miller We will value one another by covered her own face as a sign fully sharing both the good and the difficult moments in life. of modesty when she first met Isaac. In today's fast-paced world, mod- And perhaps the deepest impact of esty seems like a quaint concept. But our bedekken can be felt by the family and heritage offers great wisdom, and we friends who witness this moment. It is a hope that marriages will be built on the reminder to each of us that, while we may Jewish values that have kept our families not be the current bride or groom, we, and communities strong for so many too, can benefit from a lifting of our veils, finding a community around us in which generations. But in a more subtle fashion, the we can feel safe, loved and valued. veil calls our attention to Jacob's own Jacob learned his lesson the hard way. story. Remember, he never would have May each of us use his story to help build been in this position if he had not done the best relationships we can. * exactly what was eventually done to him Mark Miller is a rabbi at Temple Beth El in — deceived someone else by covering Bloomfield Township. himself. It wasn't exactly a veil, but the disguise he used to fool his father into 'Medication Reminders 'Safety Monitoring 'Transportation Call Lynn Feinberg and Andy Roisman 'Bathing & Dressing 'Kosher Prepared Meals •Companionship (248) 594-4574 visit us online • arcadiahomecare.com THIS HANUKKAH GIVE GIFTS OF ISRAEL BONDS Invest in Israel bonds israelbonds.com r 1 r ISRAELIPONDS Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds Jonathan Brateman, Registered Representative 6600 W. Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322 jonathan.brateman@israelbonds.com 248.661.3500 This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Issues subject to availability. Member FINRA Photo Credits: Shutterstock BrAt82 U 2047630 JN November 19 2015 61