Ja’akow!

In Parasha Toldot we get to know Ya’akov and with him the first biography in world literature. Even before his conception and birth we are told about our forefather Ya’akov (Bereshit/Gen. 25, 22) and we then follow his life through childhood, youth, adulthood, and into old age. The narrative thread focuses on Ya’akov and provides an overall picture of a human life with all its human struggles, achievements, failures and successes. We learn a lot about his suffering and pain, about jealousy and competition, about property disputes and the difficulties of raising children. We follow Ya’akov on his path with these various challenges that we as average people can easily identify with. Unlike his grandfather Avraham, Ya’akov did not have to pass any divine tests, nor was he exposed to a serious trauma like his father Yitzchak during the Akeda (binding of Yitzchak).

Ya’akov achieved everything through winding paths. His birthright and father’s blessing, his wife, his wealth and his new name came only after tenacious efforts and numerous failures. Yet he was given the privilege of receiving divine visions and G-d appeared to him three times. It is Yeshayahu Leibowitz who points out that it was Ya’akov who struggled with man and G-d and became Israel. We are all named after him and are his responsibility and duty.

Shavua Tov