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Thanksgiving Thoughts
I’m partially reclining, 35,000 feet in the air, seated next to two of my grandchildren. It’s a dream that I have reimagined over and over. I pinch myself to make certain I’m awake and I am cognizant that due to socioeconomic realities my parents could have never contemplated a similar scenario. Sadly, their lives ended prematurely before they could ever experience the pleasure of sharing life’s joys with grandchildren. I am thankful for the multitude of blessings granted to me.
The other day someone asked me a question that opened my mind to contemplate that which is often never contemplated. I was asked why, of all our patriarchs, was Isaac granted the characteristic of strength. What exactly did he do that highlighted strength? His dating skills were surely lacking as his father’s servant had to find a bride for him. He had two children and failed to see the evil of one or the goodness of the other. During his life he never played an integral role as a leader of the Jewish people. His father Abraham was the founding father of the Jewish nation and his son Jacob had his name changed to Israel by Hashem; a name that represents the essence of the Jewish people.
Of course, he calmly and obediently went with his father to be slaughtered on the altar, but that hardly defines a character of strength. Therefore, I began to think outside the box to find the meaning of true strength. It actually brings up challenges that are far more difficult than I imagined. The Torah states: ויצחק - - אהב את עשו כי ציד בפיו ,ורבקה אוהבת את יעקב And Isaac loved Esau because he provided food for him and Rebecca loved Jacob. My initial thoughts were that Isaac’s love of Esau was naive and blinded by the gifts that his son gave him. Whereas Rebecca’s love of Jacob was unconditional. This only added to my difficulty in perceiving why Isaac was lauded for his strength.
However, I now see things differently. I find Isaac’s behavior remarkable as it challenges societal norms. He decided to stand up for what is right, bucking the trend and seeking something to love about his son. Everyone else, including his wife, saw Esau as an evil unlovable child but Isaac chose to embrace and love him regardless of his faults. Strength like Isaac’s in biblical times was unheard of and deserves to be appreciated.
The recent heinous murder of five people and injuries to another eighteen people in Colorado begs all of us to question our society. In the United States and many other countries people have differing views regarding the LGBTQ communities. Some consider their lifestyles blasphemous and an abomination to God, while others are accepting and supportive. (This article does not intend to debate or question biblical views on homosexuality.) I believe that however religion may view homosexuality is not nearly as important as how one human being treats another human being. Even if someone genuinely believes that identifying as anything other than heterosexual is an abomination in the eyes of God, it can absolutely never justify cold blooded murder. If God is upset and disappointed, He certainly has the power to react. What is the moral imperative for anyone to think they are Hashem’s emissary? Who gave them the right to be judge, jury, and executioner? Regardless of their choices, every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. I believe Isaac is challenging the conservative fundamentalists to reach down in the inner recesses of their hearts and find something to love and appreciate in all humanity. Vice President Dick Cheney certainly had ultra conservative credentials, yet he openly expressed his love for his daughter regardless of her sexual identity. He showed the strength to follow his heart regardless of ramifications to his social standing.
I’m sitting next to my seven year old grandchild enjoying the chance to be grandpa. He is blissfully unaware of what the trajectory of his life will be and I am merely hopeful that his life is joyous and happy. I think to myself, tomorrow is so far away and today is so precious so why not just enjoy today. But I nonetheless consider the wisdom our patriarch Isaac imparted upon humanity; all our children and grandchildren need love and it’s our duty as parents and grandparents to love even when we don’t always agree with or understand everything about them. Esau certainly didn’t live up to his father’s expectations but his father had the strength and conviction to live up to the expectations he had of himself. We may never know what the future may bring but we certainly should know what we will bring to the future.
Obviously, my grandchildren are perfect and this essay is only theoretical.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Rabbi Jack Engel
