>> torah portion

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT?

Available at the box office.

For showtime & tickets, please visit themapletheater.com!

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT AT THE MAPLE!

Esau sells his

Are you planning a social or corporate
event? The Maple Theater and Kitchen is
the perfect place for a unique experience.
Full catering services plus wonderful
ambience. Everything is possible!
Contact ruth@themapletheater.com or call 248-855-9091

birthright to Jacob

for a bowl of soup.

Commitment
Through Identity

W

Come taste what everyone is talking about!
Open for lunch and dinner daily.

hat is Jewish continuity?
Parshat Vayishlach:
How might it be attained?
Jewish organizations
32:4-36:43;
have spent many years and millions of
dollars in search of answers to these
1:1-1:21.
questions. And with good reason: How
can we expect Jewish identity to exist in
three generations without Jewish conti-
(Jewish) identity.
nuity now?
When it comes to commit-
I believe that an answer can
ment to Jewish continuity, the
be gleaned through an exami-
willingness to secure a Jewish
nation of the lives of Jacob and
future, many of our Jewish sib-
Esau.
lings are, like Esau, sadly found
Jacob returns to his ancestral
to be wanting. Esau's name
home after an absence of 20
means fully made, complete. He
years, understandably terrified
exists in the present tense. He
of his brother's potential reac-
has no commitment to past or
tion. Informed of the impend-
Rabbi Shlomo
future. He is emotional about
ing approach of Esau's army
Riskin
his identity, but he is not will-
of 400 men, he divides his
ing to make sacrifices for its
household into two camps to be
continuity.
prepared for the worst.
What was true for a bowl of soup was
But what actually happens defies
true for his choice of wives as he marries
Jacob's expectations: Esau is overjoyed
Hittite women, causing his parents to
and thrilled to see him. The past is the
feel a "bitterness of spirit" The decision
past: "And Esau ran to meet [Yaakov],
of many modem Jews to "marry out"
and embraced him, and fell on his neck,
has, according to the 2013 Pew Research
and kissed him, and they wept"
Center report, reached an American
The two sons of Isaac reunite in
average of 58 percent. The report shows
an embrace of peace, love and hope.
those who marry out and continue to
The future of Jewish history was set to
profess a strong Jewish identity are not
take a radical step in a new direction.
able to commit to Jewish continuity."
Nevertheless, Jacob prefers a cool recon-
On the other hand, Jacob's name,
ciliation, delicately refusing Esau's offer
Yaakov, is a future-tense verb. He is con-
to travel together. Jacob's reticence to
stantly planning for the future, anticipat-
requite Esau's warmth is striking. Why
ing what he must do to perpetuate the
refuse his twin brother's gracious offer?
birthright.
Jacob's decision has important implica-
Similarly, if we are to attain Jewish
tions for our generation.
Positive characteristics of Esau may be continuity, we must internalize two cru-
cial lessons from the example of Jacob
found in Jews across the diaspora: asser-
and Esau: 1) never sell one's birthright
tive, self-made people who weep when
for any price; and 2) guarantee a Jewish
they meet a long-lost Jewish brother
future by planning strategically with an
from Ethiopia or Russia; respect for
eye toward the long-term, sacrificing
their parents and grandparents, tending
short-term gains in order to demonstrate
to physical needs and even reciting the
a commitment to continuing the legacy
mourner's Kaddish. Financial support
and lifestyle of Abraham and Sarah. *
and solidarity missions to the State of
Israel, combined with their vocal com-
Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah Stone
mitment to Jewry and Israel, reflect a
and chief rabbi of Efrat,
highly developed sense of Abrahamic

Genesis
Obadiah

For Carry-out please call 248-325-9139 • themapletheater.com

GREAT
LAKES

COFFEE ROASTING
COMPANY'

4135 W. Maple Road • Bloomfield Hills

LNAvLf IAOR °Mg LNA

RIVIERA

For the BEST LUXURY movie experience...

check out

THE RIVIERA.
(This

sea t 15

waiting

FILMS COMING SOON

LA LA LAND

For showtimes and to purchase tickets, please visit therivieracinema.com

30170 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills

(off of 9 mile, just West of Middlebelt)

have a nu*
PVPCVVN on tie

Valid at The Maple & The Riviera
Expires 12/31/16

I.

*Small bag of popcorn

December 15. 2016

35