Dear Friends,
Cheating, cursing, blessing. It could either be a plot for a television series, a descriptor of recent political activity around the election, or a conversation among our biblical patriarchs. Or all three!
This week, let’s hope it is not the discourse at our Thanksgiving gatherings.
And, at times, one may confuse these three: cheating, cursing, and blessing.
All three of these terms appear in one verse in our weekly Torah portion. Earlier in the portion, Jacob finagled the family blessing from his elder brother, Esau. Later, at present, their father Isaac was preparing to convey his paterfamilias blessing to Esau. Again, Jacob connived to preempt Esau and receive the blessing himself, masquerading as his brother, Esau, and bringing tasty, gamey food to the hungry but vision-impaired Isaac. Jacob, who was mild and smooth-skinned, would dress up in skins, carry foodstuffs, and present himself to Isaac with his mother’s collusion. Concerned, Jacob exhorted, “Should my father feel me, I will seem to him like a cheat, and I will bring a curse on myself, not a blessing." (Gen. 27:12)
Surely, Jacob was both a great patriarchal leader of our people and a manipulator, if not a con artist.
One might say the same about other leading figures of their day or of today.
Surely, we would naturally expect that the cheat will bring curses instead of blessings—my mother always preached about just desserts. Or, just ask Richard Nixon, who was not a crook but endeavored to cheat. Similar charges have been levied in recent political escapades. And, sometimes, yes, the cheater gets away with it. We all can remember that student in high school... or that Casanova in college.
But rarely do we hear the concern of the would-be cheater crying out, like Jacob, that one’s actions could backfire and bring a curse rather than a blessing. That demonstrates a measure of morality and remorse. It demonstrates some emotional intelligence and some social obligation. It differentiates the person of potential righteousness from the sociopath.
And, hence, God and Jewish Tradition were able to exonerate and even bless Jacob.
Not so, other cheaters.
Perhaps the story of Jacob and Esau might find a place at your Thanksgiving table!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Cheating, cursing, blessing. It could either be a plot for a television series, a descriptor of recent political activity around the election, or a conversation among our biblical patriarchs. Or all three!
This week, let’s hope it is not the discourse at our Thanksgiving gatherings.
And, at times, one may confuse these three: cheating, cursing, and blessing.
All three of these terms appear in one verse in our weekly Torah portion. Earlier in the portion, Jacob finagled the family blessing from his elder brother, Esau. Later, at present, their father Isaac was preparing to convey his paterfamilias blessing to Esau. Again, Jacob connived to preempt Esau and receive the blessing himself, masquerading as his brother, Esau, and bringing tasty, gamey food to the hungry but vision-impaired Isaac. Jacob, who was mild and smooth-skinned, would dress up in skins, carry foodstuffs, and present himself to Isaac with his mother’s collusion. Concerned, Jacob exhorted, “Should my father feel me, I will seem to him like a cheat, and I will bring a curse on myself, not a blessing." (Gen. 27:12)
Surely, Jacob was both a great patriarchal leader of our people and a manipulator, if not a con artist.
One might say the same about other leading figures of their day or of today.
Surely, we would naturally expect that the cheat will bring curses instead of blessings—my mother always preached about just desserts. Or, just ask Richard Nixon, who was not a crook but endeavored to cheat. Similar charges have been levied in recent political escapades. And, sometimes, yes, the cheater gets away with it. We all can remember that student in high school... or that Casanova in college.
But rarely do we hear the concern of the would-be cheater crying out, like Jacob, that one’s actions could backfire and bring a curse rather than a blessing. That demonstrates a measure of morality and remorse. It demonstrates some emotional intelligence and some social obligation. It differentiates the person of potential righteousness from the sociopath.
And, hence, God and Jewish Tradition were able to exonerate and even bless Jacob.
Not so, other cheaters.
Perhaps the story of Jacob and Esau might find a place at your Thanksgiving table!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
