Summary: VaYishlah is the 8th parasha in the Book of Genesis spanning chapters 32:4-36:43. It describes how Jacob prepared to meet his brother Esav after 20 years separation, the night-struggle he had wrestling with a mysterious figure and finally their tearful reconciliation as brothers.

After Jacob & Esav went their separate ways, the parasha reports the rape of Dinah and the subsequent sacking of Shekhem by Shimon, Levi and the other brothers. Jacob chastised his sons for their revenge killings and commanded his entire household to dispose of any idolatrous spoils taken from the town.

The family travelled to Beit El where among their entourage, his mother Rebecca’s nursemaid, Deborah, died. G-d again appeared to Jacob telling him he would be blessed with abundant offspring and in return, Jacob built an altar and a monument there to G-d.

Rachel died in childbirth bearing Binyamin. Not long after, Reuben defiled his father’s concubine, Bilhah. Jacob finally returned to Hebron to be with Isaac. And at age 180, Isaac died and was buried by his 2 sons.

The remainder of the parasha describes the lineage of Esav who had 3 wives and 5 children and who settled near Mt Seir. The heads of the Hori clan were listed. VaYishlah ends with the names of 8 kings who descended from Esav.

Comment: The story of VaYishlah shows the transformation of the third of our patriarchs from Jacob to Israel. Yaacob was his birth name which meant ‘heel’ or ‘crooked’. Yisrael became the name that meant ‘straight’ with G-d and man.

Despite beginning as someone who deceived others, after 20 years of deception under his father-in-law, Jacob had matured and was empathetic with Esav. Sincere tears of joy and relief were shed at their reunion. The Torah suggests the brothers somehow became resolved with each other – something that time & distance often allows.

But before the children of Jacob could become the nation Bnei Yisrael, they had to overcome the inherent challenges of being straight with each other. Children unconsciously absorb the behavioural traits and patterns of their parents.

Jacob’s challenge was in dealing honestly with his brother Esav. Not the favoured child in Isaac’s eyes, Jacob’s adaptive psychological approach was to manipulate by deceit. That his children chose the same method in dealing with Shekhem should be no surprise.

Jacob was incensed when Shimon & Levi avenged the honour of their sister Dinah. But, as children of Leah, the wife less favoured in Jacob’s eyes, they too were following a pattern set for them by their father.

As parents we have such a huge responsibility to be capable role models to our children. It often isn’t easy or convenient but we need to remember our actions will reverberate in their lives for decades if not generations to come.

2016 YEAR-END
In a week when news reports describe the unimaginable trauma suffered by those living in Aleppo, Syria, under the hands of brutal military forces, it’s hard not to feel despondent.

Rabbi Joel Finkelstein of Memphis Tennessee wrote insightfully. “We said ‘never again’ after the Holocaust; and then came Sarajevo and then came Rwanda, then came Somalia, then came Allepo. Now we realize that ‘never again’ is a prayer, not a statement of fact. Let’s pray harder.”

As Hanukah approaches we can remind ourselves that the miraculous victory of the Maccabees was more than a one-day flask of oil lasting for 8 days. It was the victory of a small nation who believed in G-d and who believed that man has a responsibility with G-d’s assistance to build a world of light, goodness and spirituality.

History will call out and judge those who commit atrocities against humanity. Genesis 9:6 states  ‘Whosoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for you are created in the image of G-d.’ (Gen. 9:6).

Especially in an age where news is transmitted instantaneously, we must remind ourselves that our role is to be co-creators with the Almighty in a celebration of life and community and not of death and destruction.

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
It isn’t often that one can praise the work of the United Nations General Assembly, but recently through the efforts of R Yaacov D Cohen, it was declared that going forward every 28 November will be recognised as the Universal Noahide Ethics Day.The 7 Noahide Laws are believed to be the ancient framework upon which contemporary civil law is based.

SETTING GOOD DAILY HABITS
Those of us who struggle to find meaning in our day-to-day routines, especially during these dark winter months, a daily Mishna, Talmud page (subscribe to: daf@the-altc.org) or other Torah study plus a small act of Hesed each day can be a remarkable inspiration – especially when seeing them add up over time.

 

RECITING PSALMS Introduction: This brief comment is in memory of my late mother (Brainah Leah bat Moshe Aharon) and for all those who read Tehillim for the sake of others. [Note: Quoted verses are taken from the Mechon Mamre website.]

Chapter 21: The 21^st chapter of Psalms is credited to King David. Surprisingly, it is a wholly unfamiliar chapter – the verses do not appear elsewhere in our liturgy.

This Psalm is about the privilege and protection G-d bestows upon kings and the Holy wrath shown to their enemies. It expects a reciprocity of devotion from the king; trusting that only through G-d’s assistance can victory be achieved.

כִּי-תְשִׁיתֵהוּ בְרָכוֹת לָעַד; תְּחַדֵּהוּ בְשִׂמְחָה, אֶת-פָּנֶיךָ. For You make him most blessed for ever; You make him glad with joy in Your presence. (Psalms 21:7)

כִּי-הַמֶּלֶךְ, בֹּטֵחַ בַּ-ה; וּבְחֶסֶד עֶלְיוֹן, בַּל-יִמּוֹט. For the king trusts in the LORD, yea, in the mercy of the Most High; he shall not be moved. (Psalms 21:8)

Some suggest this poetic imagery goes beyond David’s kingship to include a lineage extending until the Messiah. And while referring to the days of the Messiah, Psalm 21 metaphorically highlights not only mortal strife between King and Enemy but the larger existential struggle between Good and Evil – and how it will be resolved at the End of Days.

תִּמְצָא יָדְךָ, לְכָל-אֹיְבֶיךָ; יְמִינְךָ, תִּמְצָא שֹׂנְאֶיךָ. Your hand shall be equal to all your enemies; thy right hand shall overtake those that hate thee. (Psalms 21:9)

תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ, כְּתַנּוּר אֵשׁ– לְעֵת פָּנֶיךָ: ה, בְּאַפּוֹ יְבַלְּעֵם; וְתֹאכְלֵם אֵשׁ. You make them as a fiery furnace in the time of Your anger; the LORD will swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them. (Psalms 21:10)

A variant interpretation of Verse 10 suggests G-d has made our enemies an instrument for the punishment we incur but, eventually, our persecutors will be consumed by their own contempt.

רוּמָה ה בְּעֻזֶּךָ; נָשִׁירָה וּנְזַמְּרָה, גְּבוּרָתֶךָ. Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; so will we sing and praise Your power. (Psalms 21:14)

Summary: VaYetse is the 7th parasha in the Book of Genesis spanning chapters 28:10-32:3. It describes the life of Jacob after being sent from Canaan to find a wife in his ancestral home. VaYetse follows Jacob from his father’s house to the home of his Uncle Laban.

During that period he experienced many wonders & challenges including; dreaming of a ladder reaching from Earth to Heaven, meeting and falling in love with Rachel at the well, working for Laban for 7 years, being tricked into marrying Leah then after a week marrying Rachel and working another 7 years, the subsequent birth of children (from 2 wives and 2 handmaidens), his last 6 years working for Laban to accumulate flocks and finally, his departure from Haran back to Canaan.

Comment: VaYetse is a chiastic-structured parasha that begins and ends with Jacobs travels, and much of what happens in between appears in parallels. Rabbi David Fohrman observes that Jacob alights on a place where he sees Angels as he’s about to leave Canaan and he arrives at a place where he sees Angels on his return (‘and he called the place Mahanayim‘ Gen. 32:2).

He takes 12 stones from under his head and consecrates them (‘and this stone which is placed as a memorial will become the house of G-d’ Gen. 28:22) and he takes stones for a monument to make a covenant between himself and Laban at the end.

The centre of this chiastic structure is the story of Rachel. Despite the embarrassment her father caused by switching Leah for Rachel on the day of her marriage,  eventually she was given a son who removed her shame (‘G-d has gathered in my shame’ Gen. 30:23).

We are exhorted in the Mussar books and elsewhere that shaming another person is like causing them death by fire – anyone who has experienced that burning sensation on the face or cheeks when embarrassed will understand. Equally, we’re charged to go through fire rather than cause shame to another.

What we learn from the story of Rachel is that by enduring her humiliation she earned G-d’s favour and, through her children, was able to establish seeds for their redemption. Rachel’s life was by no means easy; it was intensely complicated and not for reasons of her own doing.

But, the Midrash tells us, that Rachel is the matriarch who looks after the Jewish people during our exile. She is the one who, from her resting place in Bet Lehem, offered comfort and consolation during the Babylonian deportations.

Where the tendency today is to lash out at others who offend us, we might benefit from the example of Rachel in learning to be long-suffering. In the end, our efforts will kindle G-d’s mercy.

December is the month for year-end celebrations and office parties. It signals the winding down of business activities and summing up of another year past.

Facebook has a very clever App showing all the posts one has submitted throughout the year and, in attractive graphics, the total of one’s annual activity. The posh credit card companies will soon be circulating a full summary of one’s spending.  There are many ways to monitor our productivity for the year 2016.

Interestingly, it’s hardly more than 2 months since Rosh Hashanah. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could also set-in place some form of monitoring system for our spiritual achievements!

Those of us who struggle to find meaning in our day-to-day routines, especially during these dark winter months, a daily Mishna, Talmud page (subscribe to: daf@the-altc.org) or other Torah study plus a small act of Hesed each day can be a remarkable inspiration – especially when seeing them add up over time.

What will you do to measure your spiritual progress?

 

RECITING PSALMS
Introduction: This brief comment is in memory of my late mother (Brainah Leah bat Moshe Aharon) and for all those who read Tehillim for the sake of others. [Note: Quoted verses are taken from the Mechon Mamre website.]

Chapter 20: Authorship of the 20^th chapter of Psalms is credited to King David. There is much written about it because it appears prominently in our Tefillah. The entirety of Psalm 20 is recited most days between Ashrei& Uva LeTsion toward the end of the Morning Shaharit service.

The Babylonian Talmud advises that one should pray for redemption after acknowledging salvation comes from G-d. Chapter 19 concluded with the words, ‘The Lord is my Rock & Redeemer,’ and appropriately, Chapter 20 begins with a plea to G-d to ‘answer us in the day of our troubles’.

יַעַנְךָ ה, בְּיוֹם צָרָה; יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ, שֵׁם אֱ-לֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; the name of the G-d of Jacob set you on high. (Psalm 20:2)

Further, we find the famous quotation which has kept Jewish morale high over the millennia. While others rely on physical numbers and weaponry, we survive through G-d remembering us.

אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב, וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים; וַאֲנַחְנוּ, בְּשֵׁם-ה אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ נַזְכִּיר. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we mention the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:8)

The last verse appears ubiquitously; in the Penitential Tahanun prayer, the beginning of the Evening Arbit Service and in Havdalah – to name just a few locations.

ה הוֹשִׁיעָה: הַמֶּלֶךְ, יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם-קָרְאֵנוּ. LORD, save; let the King answer us in the day we call. (Psalm 20:10) 

Uniquely, Psalm 20 has 70 words; some say this is associated with the 70 years of exile between the 1^st and 2^nd Jewish Temples, while others say with the 70 cries of child birth. There are few Psalms recommended specifically for times of distress; Psalm 20 can be recited during personal, communal or national calamities.

Summary: Toldot is the 6th parasha in the Book of Genesis spanning chapters 25:19-28:9. The parsha begins with Isaac & Rebekah after their marriage, their barrenness and the birth of twins Esau & Jacob. It describes the children’s characters – Esau a hunter and Jacob a scholar – and sheds light on their contentious relationship with each other. The Torah states outright ‘Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob’.

When they were still young, Esau, who’d returned from the fields famished, found Jacob cooking a lentil stew. When he asked for some, Jacob insisted Esau first sell his birth-right – leading to increased resentment.

During a famine in the land, Isaac prepared to move his family south. The Almighty appeared in a vision promising Isaac the blessings of Abraham – many children and a land to inherit.

Isaac settled in Gerar, the land of the Philistines. There, asked about his wife, he referred to her as his sister. Avimelekh discovering the truth, confronted Isaac’s deception. While continuing to reside in the area, Isaac farmed the land with great success. But as his wealth multiplied, the local people became jealous and he moved away to a place where his father had once dug wells.

After the death of Abraham, the local people had stopped-up the wells, so Isaac re-dug them. But the Philistines complained the wells belonged to them. Isaac called the first one Esek (strife) and when the same occurred a second time, he named it Sitna (hatred). Only after moving away again was he able to dig a third well that went uncontested. So he called it Rehovot (expansion).

Leaving the Philistine area, Isaac journeyed to Be’er Sheva where again he had a vision that his children would be blessed. There he built an altar and cried out in the name of G-d. Regretting their decision to have chased Isaac away, Avimelekh and his officers seek him out. Isaac rebukes them but acquiesces to their request for a treaty. On the day his Philistine visitors left, Isaac was informed his servants found water in Be’er Sheva.

Esau at age-40 took 2 Hittite wives for marriage – Yehudit and Basmat; this became a sore point for his parents.

When Isaac reached old age and his sight had failed him, he summoned Esau, tasking him to hunt some delicacies, in order to merit Isaac’s blessing. Overhearing, Rebekah quickly intervened telling Jacob to impersonate his brother and surreptitiously receive the blessing instead. Rebekah prepared a plate of delicacies from 2 local goats, dressing Jacob with their hairy skins.

Though Isaac cautiously tried to verify the true identity of the person in front of him, he eventually blessed Jacob. No sooner had Jacob left then Esau appeared. Horrified his brother had again taken what was his, Esau cried out in anguish until Isaac found a blessing for Esau as well. The incident hardened Esau’s resolve to kill his brother.

When Rebekah heard Esau’s intentions, she complained to Isaac that Jacob mustn’t marry any of the local women. So, Isaac summoned Jacob, sending him away to the home of his uncle Laban, Rebekah’s brother. When Esau saw that Jacob had been sent away, he added a third wife – Mahalat, from the B’nei Ishmael.

Comment: Just as there were uncomfortable silences during the story of the banishment of Hagar & Ishmael, there are enormous difficulties in teaching the stories of Toldot. Two examples would be ‘why did Rebekah resort to deception to get the blessings for Jacob when she might have just explained her convictions to Isaac?’ And, ‘how does the desired outcome of having Jacob receive the blessings justify the deception of Esau and the anguish it caused?’

Some Torah commentaries assert that the story of Genesis is about finding a way back to the Garden of Eden through reconciliation or tikkun. This was the aim of the Noah story which ended unsuccessfully. It continued with Abraham in the hope that one righteous individual would restore our broken link to the Divine.

Seen in this light, the family of Abraham was meant to carry on his legacy and eventually become a nation, and in that capacity serve as a guiding light unto all other nations. To the uninformed outsider, then, the challenge for both Abraham and Isaac was to have an heir worthy of carrying on this mission. And so, if the prerequisite for choosing the next generation who receives the mantle of leadership is righteousness – it defies rationality when the key figures act in ways that seem less than honourable.

There is no quick or easy answer to resolving this dilemma. Those willing to look at the scriptural texts for what they contain, will no doubt find them difficult to explain away. One approach that can be applied is to recognise that all of these acts had significant consequences.

Just as the banishing of Hagar was a precursor for the years of servitude Bnei Yisrael would experience in Egypt, so too, did Jacob’s deceiving Esau lead to years of strife between the twin brothers and their descendants. Except for the last 17 years of his life when he was reunited with Joseph, Jacob suffered continuously from deceptions brought against him.

By contemporary standards, we’d find it hard to respect the deceiver over the deceived. Let the stories of Toldot teach us that the end doesn’t justify the means.

VIENNA CONFERENCE
The rabbi returned from Vienna inspired by the completion of the KAICIID programme on Conflict Resolution & Peace Building. In total, 43 delegates from 20 countries participated in the closing training which emphasised the importance of Dialogue. Photo highlights can be found here, here & here.

In a world where communication has become instantaneous, and where the volume of every kind of information available is in the hands of the lay person, we’re challenged to think beyond our parochialism and our prejudices. There is a spirit within each of us that wishes it were possible to live without hatred and violence, without selfishness and strife.

In many religions this is anticipated in the equivalent of a Messianic period that has thus far never materialised. And according to some views, humanity will never reach that point without making the compromises required. It used to be fashionable to discuss utopian lifestyles but these days we’re far more preoccupied with the polity’s shift toward nationalism.

With regard to the difficult issues, of saving our environment, of helping refugees, of youth radicalisation, many of us have adopted a NIMBY policy – not in my back yard, or I’m too busy to be involved, or ‘aren’t there more qualified people looking after this?’.

But neglect and avoidance are unsuccessful strategies. By comparison, this happens with regard to personal health. How many times have we noticed some small thing not going right in our bodies but then can’t find time to visit the GP to have it examined?

With so much political movement to the right, isn’t it time we asked ourselves ‘what’s really going wrong and what can we do to find a new sense of balance?’

RECITING PSALMS Introduction: This brief comment is in memory of my late mother (Brainah Leah bat Moshe Aharon) and for all those who read Tehillim for the sake of others. [Note: Quoted verses are taken from the Mechon Mamre website.]

Chapter 19:

Authorship of the 19^th chapter of Psalms is credited to King David. It is a meditation – and it contains a two-fold message. In the first part, King David extols the works of Nature which allow us to perceive the wonders of G-d’s creation.

הַשָּׁמַיִם, מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד–אֵ–ל; וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, מַגִּיד הָרָקִיעַ. The Heavens declare the glory of G-d, and the Firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalms 19:2)

The second message from verse 8 onwards is that through G-d’s revelation to Bnei Yisrael at Sinai, we can have a relationship with our Creator.

 תּוֹרַת ה תְּמִימָה, מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ; עֵדוּת ה נֶאֱמָנָה, מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי. The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalms 19:8)

The final verses then beseech G-d’s protection in keeping us from going astray.

 גַּם מִזֵּדִים, חֲשֹׂךְ עַבְדֶּךָ— אַל–יִמְשְׁלוּ–בִי אָז אֵיתָם; וְנִקֵּיתִי, מִפֶּשַׁע רָב. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, that they may not have dominion over me; then shall I be faultless, and I shall be clear from great transgression. (Psalms 19:14)

This Psalm may be familiar because it is read on Shabbat morning during Zemirot (Pisukei D’Zimrah). And, its last verse is said silently and at least thrice daily at the end of each Amidah.

יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי–פִי, וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ: ה, צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:15)

Summary: Hayei Sarah is the 5th parasha in the Book of Genesis spanning chapters 23:1-25:18. There are two central stories occurring in this parasha; the first was the death of Sarah at age 127 and Avraham’s immediate need to acquire her burial place. The second entailed finding a wife for Isaac. To that end, Avraham dispatched his servant back to Haran in search of a woman fit to carry on the legacy of Hesed (kindness).

The servant (identified as Eliezer) serendipitously met Rebekah at a well, where she offered him drink and watered his camels. He gave her 3 pieces of jewellery and after she ran home to tell her mother, he was invited to meet and dine with her family. Before eating he insisted to explain his mission, retelling the entire series of events, persuading them to let Rebekah marry Isaac. The servant soon returned to Canaan where bride and groom were united.

Avraham then married Keturah and fathered more children, sending them away during his lifetime, to avoid any challenge to Isaac’s right as sole heir. Avraham died age 175 and was buried by his 2 sons. The parasha closes with a list of the 12 princes that descended from Ishmael and with Ishmael’s death age 137.

Comment: To the observant reader, Hayei Sarah begins and ends with the death of historic figures. Though the title means the Life of Sarah, in fact the demise of the key members in Avraham’s family (Abraham, Sarah & Ishmael) filters our attention to the central story – finding a wife for Isaac.

Many commentators, including Rashi, marvel at the number of verses used to tell (and re-tell) the miraculous story of how Eliezer found Rebekah and brought her to marry Isaac. Often under-emphasised is how much Rebekah’s character resembled Avraham’s and that the future of the Jewish people relied on her strength of character as much as if not more than on that of Isaac.

Avraham was renowned for offering hospitality to wayfarers. Rebekah was not unfamiliar with offering water to a stranger and his caravan of camels. Avraham was called by G-d to leave his homeland for an unknown destination. Rebekah left her family in Haran for Canaan. Rashi suggests her father and brother were more impressed by the description of Avraham’s fantastic wealth than by the mission of carrying on Avraham’s legacy. Rebekah was centred on the value of Hesed.

Marriage is an abstract concept wherein a man and a woman combine efforts and energies to become a new entity called ‘we’. Rather than thinking selfishly of one’s own well-being, marriage necessitates extending one’s view of ‘self’. When Isaac met Rebekah, the verse says he ‘brought her into his mother’s tent, he took her for a wife and came to love her, and that he was comforted of the loss of his mother’ (Genesis 24:67). This description suggests how deeply Isaac, even as an adult, was tied emotionally to Sarah.

As we will see next week, the story of Isaac & Rebekah and their children seems driven more by the character and maturity of Rebekah than by her husband.

AISH UK AMAZING RESULTS Congratulations to Aish UK for raising more than £1.1 million in 24 hours earlier this week. Helped by a 3-for-1 programme of matching donors, more than 1,500 people or institutions contributed on the day.

Aish UK has served the Anglo-Jewish community for 23 years. Yet, to see this remarkable outpouring of support was hugely exciting.

VIENNA CONFERENCE The rabbi will be in Vienna this week for the 3rd segment of the KAICIID programme on Conflict Resolution & Peace Building. The 20 delegates from around the world will be learning practical skills and techniques, and planning workshops for their respective countries.

And, as a follow-up to last week’s tribute to the Late Leonard Cohen, the former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks posted a 15-minute Parasha piece about Cohen’s last song ‘You Want It Darker’ and it’s parallels with the world of Akeidat Yitshak (the Sacrifice of Isaac). Viewed by more than 365,000, the Chief Rabbi explained that while he was no Saint, Cohen was at times a profoundly prophetic voice for our times.

RECITING PSALMS Introduction: This brief comment is in memory of my late mother (Brainah Leah bat Moshe Aharon) and for all those who read Tehillim for the sake of others. [Note: Quoted verses are taken from the Mechon Mamre website.]

Chapter 18: Authorship of the 18^th chapter of Psalms is credited to King David. It is 51 verses long and closely mirrors the story of David’s life and struggles also found in II Samuel Chap 2. It can be divided into 5 sections; all different variations of praise for G-d who delivered him from his enemies.

Referred to as a ‘Song,’ Section 1 espouses David’s love for the Almighty. Section 2 recounts in celestial and terrestrial imagery the ways G-d rescued David from danger. In Section 3, David professes his righteousness and loyalty to G-d. In Section 4, he attributes his military success exclusively to the Almighty. And, in Section 5, David anticipates continuing support and strength from the Divine.

Several of the verses in Chapter 18 appear in well-known prayers. The following two are part of the Sephardi liturgy before we read the Torah (though in the siddur they appear in reverse order). 

הָאֵ–ל, תָּמִים דַּרְכּוֹ:אִמְרַת–ה צְרוּפָה; מָגֵן הוּא, לְכֹל הַחֹסִים בּוֹ. As for God, His way is perfect;the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him. (Psalms 18:31)

כִּי מִי אֱ–לוֹהַּ, מִבַּלְעֲדֵי ה; וּמִי צוּר, זוּלָתִי אֱ–לֹהֵינוּ. For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a Rock, except our God? (Psalms 18:32)

The final verse here appears in the penultimate paragraph of Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals).  

מַגְדִּל, יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ:וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד, לִמְשִׁיחוֹ—לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ; עַד–עוֹלָם. Great salvation He gives to His king; and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore. (Psalms 18:50)

INTER-FAITH WEEK: In case you haven’t heard, this week is Interfaith Week – an opportunity to widen our circle of those working in the service of Goodness and in devotion to the Almighty, who we feel safe getting to know and befriending, regardless of whether we agree with their theology.

To mark the occasion, Chief Rabbi Mirvis & Archbishop Justin Welby launched ‘In Good Faith,’ a dialogue and social action initiative for local communities. More details here.

THE LATE LEONARD COHEN: In the excitement and anguish of last week’s USA election results, the media had little time to reflect on the passing of legendary singer/ poet Leonard Cohen.

Here are links to the article in this week’s Jewish Chronicle with quotations from the former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks; to the Canadian Prime Minister’s statement, to a documentary on Cohen’s early music career and to his acceptance speech for the 2011 Prince of Asturias award.

A special Kaddish evening will be held at JW3 on 12 December. Tickets are available here.

Norwegian TV asked Cohen about returning from 6 years in a Zen Buddhist retreat to learn his trusted manager had embezzled his life savings. Cohen understatedly responded, ‘Money has a way of disappearing if you don’t watch it very closely.’

On a serious note, words can’t be found to express the feeling of immense bereavement for a proudly Jewish figure who made such a disarming impact over the past half century through profound poetry and music that often seared the soul while carving out a place of distinction for the imperfect.

RECITING PSALMS Introduction: This brief comment is in memory of my late mother (Brainah Leah bat Moshe Aharon) and for all those who read Tehillim for the sake of others. [Note: Quoted verses are taken from the Mechon Mamre website.]

Chapter 17: Authorship of the 17th Chapter of Psalms is attributed to King David who both beseeched G-d to take note of his righteousness and sought protection through G-d from his enemies. Here David longed to be part of G-d’s mercy and to bask in the glory of the Divine presence.

תְּפִלָּה, לְדָוִד: שִׁמְעָה ה, צֶדֶק– הַקְשִׁיבָה רִנָּתִי, הַאֲזִינָה תְפִלָּתִי; בְּלֹא, שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה. A Prayer of David. Hear righteousness, O LORD, attend my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit. (Psalms 17:1)

אֲנִי-קְרָאתִיךָ כִי-תַעֲנֵנִי אֵ-ל; הַט-אָזְנְךָ לִי, שְׁמַע אִמְרָתִי. As for me, I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me, hear my speech. (Psalms 17:6)

David taught us that in praying to the Almighty one can only succeed through sincerity of heart, honesty and an absence of self-deception.

קוּמָה ה– קַדְּמָה פָנָיו, הַכְרִיעֵהוּ;פַּלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי, מֵרָשָׁע חַרְבֶּךָ. Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, by Your sword; (Psalms 17:13)

אֲנִי–בְּצֶדֶק, אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ; אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ, תְּמוּנָתֶךָ. As for me, I’ll see Your face in righteousness; I’ll be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness. (Psalms 17:15)

David asked the Almighty to heed not the plans and treachery of those who wished him harm, but rather grant him success during his lifetime and allow him the merit of being with G-d when his days were done.

[E.N.: Rashi interpreted this Psalm differently – as a lament – after David sinned with Bat Sheba. Contrite & broken in spirit, David prayed for forgiveness, protection from retribution and exoneration in the World to Come.]

Summary: VaYeira is the 4th parasha in the Book of Genesis spanning chapters 18:1-22-24. It contains the familiar stories of Abraham’s later years and the challenges that lead him to become the great man of faith and pursuer of justice.

Included in VaYeira are; Abraham’s recovery from circumcision, hosting 3 ‘men’ who inform Sarah will bear a child, G-d revealing plans to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah and Abraham pleading for it to be spared, the rescue of Lot and disgrace with his daughters, a famine that caused Abraham & Sarah to move to Gerar, Isaac’s birth, Hagar & Ishmael’s banishment, a covenant with Abimelekh and the Binding of Isaac.

Comment: Rabbi David Fohrman offers an original insight into the VaYeira drama of G-d and Abraham negotiating the rescue of the city of Sodom. Abraham challenged G-d to uphold justice and not punish the righteous among the wicked.

G-d consented to Abraham’s pleas to save the city if 50 righteous lived there. The dialogue continued until the ransom figure was only 10. Then the Torah informs ‘G-d departed after finishing to speak with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place’ (Genesis: 18-32). But there’s ambiguity whether they had struck a deal.

Immediately the 2 angels went to rescue Lot. Embedded in that story, was a possible successful resolution. Lot was still considered among the righteous whom Abraham spoke about. He’d grown up in Abraham’s home and understood the custom of offering hospitality to strangers. He heard his visitor’s plea to gather up his family to escape but failed to hold sway over anyone but his wife and 2 unmarried daughters.

R Fohrman calculates the number of those in Lot’s household; 2 sons, 2 sons-in-law and 4 daughters plus Lot and his wife – equaled 10. Had Lot only been able to influence his extended family to join him, G-d would have consented – for this was Abraham’s bargain. Furthermore, had Lot influenced the townspeople toward peace and virtue, it might have averted the destruction.

We infer that in difficult and undesirable circumstances, those who have influence to change a situation of desperation and difficulty to goodness, are obliged to act resolutely and with courage. It’s not good enough to close ourselves off and turn away from troubles around us; we must take an active stand. The moral – as much as the wicked are held responsible for their actions, so too are those who stand by idly and watch!