I think Heschel says explicitly that the week is about doing and Shabbat is about being - emulating God doing the work of creation, and then ceasing the work to be with what was created.
Love that—thank you for bringing this idea. I also heard a dvar Torah this week that explored Jacob's dream with the angels and his realization that the place became sacred, as a framework to think about the sanctity of time - very Heschelian.
"The freedom of enough" -- one of THE lessons of a lifetime. It's as if there are skins of envy to slough until being and having are in symbiosis. Learning that what I experience goes back to our forefathers helps take the pressure off and focuses me on why it's so important to evolve into being with what I have.
The most beautiful, perfect interpretation of the parasha. I am a great fan of Eric Fromm and yet I am embarrassed to say that sometimes I foret the lesson you reminded us of this week. I love how you used Jacob's story to remind us. I am so glad to have you in my in box! Shabbat Shalom!
Jo, thank you for such a generous comment - I too love Erich Fromm and was grateful when I realized it helped illuminate this week's parasha. Shavua tov!!
I feel like I've waited a lifetime for the gift of your Torah insights and writing.
Your words enable me to reflect anew about our US Thanksgiving holiday. It is ideally about balance, aspiring not to value abundance in and of itself but aim for gratitude for having enough no matter what that "enough" is.
I love your phrase "Torah is not a self-help book".
Thank you so much Amy for your kind words - I'm enjoying studying Torah together! and yes - I think I will write in future about the Torah not being a self -help book :)
Great drash! Interesting to explore how Yaakov changes over his lifetime so that when Pharoah asks how old he is in Bereisheet 47, he replies "few and difficult have been the days of my life"
I think Heschel says explicitly that the week is about doing and Shabbat is about being - emulating God doing the work of creation, and then ceasing the work to be with what was created.
Love that—thank you for bringing this idea. I also heard a dvar Torah this week that explored Jacob's dream with the angels and his realization that the place became sacred, as a framework to think about the sanctity of time - very Heschelian.
"The freedom of enough" -- one of THE lessons of a lifetime. It's as if there are skins of envy to slough until being and having are in symbiosis. Learning that what I experience goes back to our forefathers helps take the pressure off and focuses me on why it's so important to evolve into being with what I have.
Yes. Why a lifetime? Is there a possibility for a child or younger person can learn this prior to being aged?
Maybe we will have to continuously work on this throughout our lifetimes..
"skins of envy". Will sit with this for a while!!
Thank you, Mijal.
The most beautiful, perfect interpretation of the parasha. I am a great fan of Eric Fromm and yet I am embarrassed to say that sometimes I foret the lesson you reminded us of this week. I love how you used Jacob's story to remind us. I am so glad to have you in my in box! Shabbat Shalom!
Jo, thank you for such a generous comment - I too love Erich Fromm and was grateful when I realized it helped illuminate this week's parasha. Shavua tov!!
Is Erich Fromm the source of the word Frumm?
His thoughts seem to agree: paraphrasing, “I do not want your stuff.”—sort of what Yaakov tried to say to his brother.
I don’t think so! Agreed that his thought is very aligned with Biblical wisdom ❤️
Another wonderful piece and thoughtful lesson. I appreciate you
Thank you Todd!!
I feel like I've waited a lifetime for the gift of your Torah insights and writing.
Your words enable me to reflect anew about our US Thanksgiving holiday. It is ideally about balance, aspiring not to value abundance in and of itself but aim for gratitude for having enough no matter what that "enough" is.
I love your phrase "Torah is not a self-help book".
Thank you so much Amy for your kind words - I'm enjoying studying Torah together! and yes - I think I will write in future about the Torah not being a self -help book :)
Great drash! Interesting to explore how Yaakov changes over his lifetime so that when Pharoah asks how old he is in Bereisheet 47, he replies "few and difficult have been the days of my life"