Jacob's Voice Vs. Esau's Hands: the Aftermath of a Massacre
November
21, 2014
Toldot,
5775
Rabbi
Joseph R. Black
Temple
Emanuel, Denver, CO
This has been a very difficult week.
For me, personally, on Monday morning – the day after Sue and I returned
from a fantastic trip to New York with our 10th grade Confirmation
class I underwent a planned, laparoscopic surgical procedure to remove my
gallbladder. As I emerged from the fog
of anesthesia and pain medication on Tuesday morning, I tried to get caught up
in what was happening in the world around me.
I learned of the horrific attack on
a synagogue in the Har Nof section of West Jerusalem. Armed with knives, meat
cleavers, and handguns, two Palestinian terrorists burst into a holy sanctuary
during morning prayers – killing five Israelis - Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel
Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine (who had family in Boulder), and Police Officer
Zidan Saif. Three of the slain held American/Israeli citizenship, one
held British/Israeli citizenship, and one was a Druze Israeli police officer.
In addition, seven civilians were wounded, three seriously. Images of bloody
worshippers still wrapped in tallitot (prayer shawls) and tefillin
(phylacteries) shook us to the very core.
This attack is part of an
ever-escalating series of violent incidents in and around Jerusalem that seem
to point towards a coordinated resumption of violence in the Israeli Capital.
Making matters even worse, in the
aftermath of this murderous and reprehensible act of violence, we witnessed
rejoicing in Gaza and certain other sectors of the Palestinian community. Men, women and children were dancing in the
streets, passing out sweets and celebrating this “victory”– a victory that
consisted of the brutal murders of innocents and of police officers who were
assigned to protect them. The fact that
the attack was against a Jewish religious target – a synagogue – and the
victims were engaged in the sacred act of prayer made the reality of what
happened all the more horrifying. This
was not an act of war – not could it be disguised as such. This was a blatant act of violence against
the Jewish people.
In addition to the increasing violence and tension occurring in
Jerusalem, here in the States, we are all watching and waiting to see what will
happen in Ferguson, MO – where a Grand Jury is set to announce its decision in
regards to the case against Police Officer Darren Wilson, the man who fatally
shot Michael Brown – an unarmed African American young man – this past
summer.
And just yesterday, another act of
violence occurred when a disturbed young man with easy access to guns and
ammunition opened fire at a University campus – this time at Florida State
University in Tallahassee, He wounded
three students – one seriously, before he was killed by police officers.
Violence on the streets– is very much alive. But there is a difference between what is
happening in our nation and what we are witnessing in Jerusalem. As tragic and disturbing as recent events on
the streets of our cities might be, no one in America is rejoicing over the
murder of innocents. No one is
celebrating the lives of the killers – calling them heroes in the wake of their
cowardly acts.
For those of us who are praying for peace in Israel, we must ask
the question: How can peace come when
there are those who not only do not discourage violence, but actively encourage
others to engage in random, senseless killing?
How can there be hope when the murder of innocents is greeted with
raucous rejoicing? What chance is there
for a negotiated settlement in light of the tyranny of terror? How can we continue to paint the situation in
Israel as political when there are those who are deliberately and actively
attacking religious targets – like synagogues - that have nothing to do with
Statehood?
In this week’s Torah portion, Toldot, we are introduced to twin brothers – Jacob and Esau – whose
entire life is consumed with fighting.
We are told how, when Rebekah was pregnant with her sons, they
“struggled within her” (Genesis 25:22).
We learn of how Jacob tricks Esau into selling his birthright and how,
with his mother’s help, he deceives his father, Isaac, into giving him the
blessing that was supposed to have been given to Esau.
In our text, we read of how, when Jacob comes to his blind
father dressed in Esau’s clothing and covered in sheepskin, Isaac is confused
and proclaims: “The hands are the hand
of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob.” Over the centuries, many
commentators have used this phrase to accentuate the differences between those
who would use violence to achieve their goals (the hands of Esau) and those who
would eschew violence and use dialogue and negotiation to accomplish peace (the
voice of Jacob).
It is clear that time is running out for the prospect seeing any
kind of negotiated settlement in Israel and the territories. Violence begets violence and only serves to
strengthen those who would champion the hands of Esau and silence the voice of
Jacob.
Our tradition has made it clear that there is a time and a place
for the use of strength and power. It is
a Mitzvah to defend ourselves when placed in a dangerous situation. The state of Israel and the Jewish people
will never allow ourselves to be destroyed by our enemies’ attacks. This is why the war in Gaza this past summer
was not only justified, but essential.
At the same time, once we have established our physical well-being and
safety, we also are commanded to “Bakeysh Shalom V’Rodfeyhu – Seek peace
and pursue it.” At several times during
our services this evening we will pray for peace. It is quite possible that the moment that the
four rabbis were murdered in the midst of their prayers they were saying the
words:
Oseh Shalom Bimromav, Hu YaSeh Shalom Aleynu V’Al kol Yisrael – May
the One who makes peace in the High Heavens, make peace for us and all Israel.”
This
week we are reminded of the tension between the hands of Isaac and the Voice of
Jacob. Let us work and pray for the time
when our voices will be louder than our fists.
The
families of the four rabbis who were murdered this week in Jerusalem just put
out the following Shabbat plea:
With broken hearts, drenched in tears shed
over the spilt blood of holy men – the heads of our families.
We
call on our brethren wherever they are – let us come together so that we may
merit mercy from Heaven, and let’s accept upon ourselves to increase love and
comradery, between each individual and each community.
We
ask that every person accept upon himself on this Sabbath Eve (Parshat Toldot,
November 21-22, 2014), to set aside the day of Shabbat as a day of
unconditional love, a day during which we will refrain from words of
disagreement and division, from words of gossip and slander.
May
this serve to elevate the souls of our husbands and fathers who were
slaughtered while sanctifying Gd’s name.
Gd
will look down from the heavens, see our suffering, wipe away our tears and put
an end to our tribulations.
May
we merit seeing the coming of our Moshiach (Messiah) speedily in our days.
Amen.
Signed
with a torn heart,
Mrs.
Chaya Levin and family
Mrs.
Bryna Goldberg and family
Mrs.
Yaacova Kupensky and family
Mrs.
Bashy Twersky and family
