{"id":1254,"date":"2017-11-19T19:11:56","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T00:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mayasgifts.elisegold.org\/?p=1254"},"modified":"2017-11-19T21:18:39","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T02:18:39","slug":"mayas-dvar-or-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mayasgifts.elisegold.org\/?p=1254","title":{"rendered":"Maya\u2019s D\u2019Var or Words"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Each week, a different passage of the Torah is chanted.\u00a0 At age 14, when Maya became a Bat Mitzvah on November 10, 2014, her passage (parsha) was Toldot.\u00a0 As part of the ceremony, one becoming a b\u2019nai mitvah is to share their reflections.\u00a0 It is called the \u201cD\u2019Var Torah\u201d, or \u201cWords from the Torah\u201d.\u00a0 This was Maya\u2019s chance to teach us something she learned from her passage.\u00a0 I have copied and pasted Maya\u2019s words for you, as this year, \u201cToldot\u201d was read yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

Summary:<\/p>\n

In my parsha, Toldot, there\u2019s a series of events leading up to the climax of the story. The story begins with Rebecca, who is married to Isaac, and having trouble conceiving. She finally conceives, but has a difficult pregnancy as the \u201cchildren struggle inside her\u201d; God tells her that \u201cthere are two nations in your womb,\u201d and that the younger will prevail over the elder. Her first born is Esau, and grasping his heel is the second child, Jacob. Esau grows to be \u201ca cunning hunter, a man of the field\u201d, while Jacob becomes \u201ca wholesome man,\u201d a dweller in the tents of learning.\u00a0 Isaac favors his son Esau, but Rebecca loves Jacob more. One day, Esau returns home from a long hunt, and harshly demands red meat from Jacob. Jacob, being the clever man he is, bribes Esau, saying the only way that he will get food is if he gives Jacob his birthright, which are his rights as the first-born. Being that he is starving and weak, Esau readily agrees and devours his meal. Isaac and Rebecca then settle in Gerar, within Philistine, where Isaac fears that someone will kill him out of yearning for his beautiful wife. Isaac decides to prevent this from happening; he will present Rebecca as his sister, as somebody wouldn\u2019t kill a man for his sister. Eventually, Abimelech, the ruler of the land of the Philistines, notices Isaac and Rebecca as husband and wife, and addresses Isaac. Isaac confesses to lying about Rebecca being his sister, as she was, in fact, his wife. Abimelech commanded all the townspeople, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death.” At this point, Isaac has grown quite old, and blind, and summons Esau to his side, saying it is time for him to receive the firstborn blessing. Esau sets out to hunt the best meal for his father. Meanwhile, Rebecca overheard what Isaac had told Esau, and she, in turn, informs Jacob. She tells Jacob to do as she says, and helps him to disguise himself as his older brother. Rebecca prepares a meal for Isaac, and sends Jacob in to receive Esau\u2019s blessing. Isaac is skeptical, but is eventually convinced in his blind state that the man before him is Esau, his firstborn. So, he gives Jacob the blessing, thinking he is giving it to his firstborn. As soon as Isaac finishes blessing Jacob, Esau, the real firstborn, marches in. Unaware of what had just taken place, Esau says to his father “Let my father arise and eat of the game of his son, so that your soul will bless me.” Naturally, Isaac is confused, but Esau isn\u2019t slow to figure out that Jacob had tricked them. Esau, frustrated, pleads for a blessing from his father. The least Isaac can do is give a secondhand blessing, and that is what he does. The furious Esau mutters to himself that he will surely kill his brother, for this time, Jacob had gone too far.<\/p>\n

Opinion Paragraph<\/p>\n

When reading Toldot, I saw a recurring theme. Well, it\u2019s the Torah, so I guess that was expected. So this theme; it was whether an act was one of selfishness, or selflessness. Now, you may think \u201cThey\u2019re opposite meanings, how could they be confused with each other?\u201d Let me give you an example: When Jacob bribes Esau to acquire his birthright, is that him just wanting the power it bestows for himself, or does he, perhaps, know that it\u2019s for the greater good, and that it would be better for others for him to have it? So selfishness or selflessness? This happens again when Isaac lies about Rebecca being his wife. Is that Isaac being selfish and wanting his wife for himself, or not wanting to be killed? Maybe. Or is that Isaac being selfless and concerned for Rebecca, not wanting her to be left a widow, or wed to a man who doesn\u2019t treat her well. Could he be thinking of his sons as well? For, if he were killed they would be left fatherless and Esau wouldn\u2019t receive his blessing. Maybe. Could it be an act of both? The same question arose for me when Jacob once again tricks Esau and steals the first born blessing. Thinking of the greater good, even Esau, or just himself? I know, lots of questions. I concluded that I will never know for sure, but I might as well create my own answers, or opinions. First, when the birthright is stolen, I believe it was both an egocentric and altruistic act. Same goes for Isaac\u2019s lie. And same goes for Jacob\u2019s final trick. I mean, why does it have to be one or the other? I don\u2019t believe it does. I think that they genuinely had both intentions.<\/p>\n

The characters in the Bible are held up as heroes and role models.\u00a0 In fact, it shows humans that we all have fallibility, or imperfections. I had trouble viewing someone like Jacob as a role model, as he continuously deceived Esau and his own father as well. Also, I\u2019m not sure Rebecca and Isaac were the best parents. I mean, as far as I\u2019m concerned, favoring your children isn\u2019t exactly the best parenting. Rebecca was the one who encouraged Jacob to steal his brother\u2019s blessing. This was not only Rebecca pitting her sons against each other, but also going behind her husband\u2019s back. Well, they\u2019re in the Torah, so they must have done something right.<\/p>\n

When you hear the word, \u201cselfish\u201d, you probably think about it in a negative way; selfish is bad. I\u2019d furthermore assume that \u201cselfless\u201d is good, right? In my life, I feel as though I feel as though I often don\u2019t think very much about whether what I\u2019m doing is selfless or not.\u00a0 In reflecting on my actions, I came to a realization.\u00a0 Which was: When I am being selfless, I am also being selfish.\u00a0 The reason being; when I am able to bring joy to others, it makes me happy.\u00a0 Now that may sound cheesy, but it is true.\u00a0 Like if, I volunteer at a soup kitchen, seeing hungry people eating, and getting what they need\u2026that gives me a really great feeling.\u00a0 So being selfless can be selfish.\u00a0 Another thought that arose for me in thinking of myself with relation to Toldot was selfishness for the sake of others.\u00a0 An example of this could be perhaps, when I take space from people.\u00a0 If, say, I\u2019m sick, and want to stay home from school.\u00a0 Sure, it is because I don\u2019t want to go to school.\u00a0 Or because I want to feel better. But think, what if I did go to school in this negative state of mind and body?\u00a0 I\u2019m not so sure those around me would enjoy my company.\u00a0 Then if I wanted to make it even more complicated, I could say: By being selfish and not going to school, but being selfless and leaving others unaffected, I am also being selfish because I wouldn\u2019t want for a person to have unpleasant feelings towards me.\u00a0 Does that make sense?\u00a0 Being selfish can be selfless which can be selfish.\u00a0 Now that\u2019s something to think about.\u00a0 So is selfish really always bad?\u00a0 Is selfless always good?<\/p>\n

Thank you<\/p>\n

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They say that one does not find the Torah passage; it finds you.\u00a0 This rings true for Maya\u2019s, for sure.\u00a0 There is much to say here but I\u2019ll leave you with a two thoughts as I reflect on this anniversary:<\/em><\/p>\n