Sent Messengers

THE BIG IDEA

This is a very difficult energetic week for the descendants of Jacob.  As we contemplate the abduction of Jacob’s one daughter Dina for the second cycle during this war, 96 hostages are still trapped in Gaza. 

Even more difficult to consider are the lasting negative karmic ramifications of Jacob's fear, anger and anxiety around Esau. Forcing his descendants to admit the long term consequences in a lack of complete faith in the divine unfolding, and attachment to fear. 

Before facing the brother from whom he took his blessings in the physical world - Jacob wrestled with his shadow in the spiritual and psychic realm. This struggle left him blessed with the name Israel, -– and left him wounded in his inner hip socket, a wound understood by the sages to negatively affect Jacobs’ descendants until this day. A wound so significant it is forever marked by the spiritual obligation to refrain from eating the Gid Hanasheh (sciatic nerve/hind quarter) in kosher animals.

Jacob is the most relatable of the patriarchs because he, like us, actively struggles with his faith. Like us, he has a spiritual and physical essence that are not always in harmony. If only Jacob could have been trusting and patient in the process perhaps the name Israel (a name we carry as a people and as a nation) wouldn’t be so associated with struggle - but entirely with grace. After all, the name was coming to him directly from God.

Perhaps if Jacob hadn’t locked his daughter Dina in a chest to protect her from Esau seeing and wanting her, she might have been spared the pain and shame of her abduction and violation (rashi on 11 children - not 12).

And perhaps if we stop wrestling and fighting with each other, and turn toward the mystery and power of God united in full faith , perhaps if we can let go our our attachment to fear, we can end the nightmare of our persecution, we can bring back our 96 hostages, we can join in love and respect, and we can begin to fulfill our spiritual destiny to model peaceful co-existence amongst ourselves as a diverse nation of Israel and model it it in the world.