"Many great sages say that, thought creates action and actions, create reality. In Parsha Vayeitzei - Yaakov ask God to protect him, to provide food and shelter on his journey. Rav Hirsch of the 18th century said that what Yaakov was really asking for, was strength and focus to retain his character, his integrity, in the face of war and family battles. Simply put- God provides everything- even internal qualities, and according to Torah the only way to connect to God's sustenance, is through - good intentions and actions, like Yakov’s prayers and facing his brother Esav.
When traveling into new realities of greatness, personal growth- aka the unknown - Yaakov is teaching us, in parsha Vayeitzei, all we can do is ask God to help us focus on the right things- staying strong and having integrity... so that those thoughts create action...and those actions create a greater reality.”
Friday, November 27, 2015
Too strong to win
So many stories in Torah are based around individuals being put in difficult situations. Being broken as people but through vulnerability and crying out to God, they become victorious.
How is this the case when we live in a world (2015) that convinces us, we need to be strong, powerful, boastful like Floyd Mayweather & Ronda Rousey - to be victorious?
Well, Rav Hirsch explains it perfectly depicting the conflict between Yaakov & Esav in his commentary on parsha Vayishlach:
"It may seem to be undesirable to arrive at a long-anticipated encounter with a physical disability, but it actually helped Esav understand something about the brother who stood before him. Yaakov would become identified with Divine assistance precisely because he could not compete with others with his own resources. Yaakov would not be defeated, but the source of his strength was not within him, but in his relationship with Hashem. Esav understood on some level that Yaakov was not the master and source of his good fortune and his very survival. Something higher stood behind him."
How is this the case when we live in a world (2015) that convinces us, we need to be strong, powerful, boastful like Floyd Mayweather & Ronda Rousey - to be victorious?
Well, Rav Hirsch explains it perfectly depicting the conflict between Yaakov & Esav in his commentary on parsha Vayishlach:
"It may seem to be undesirable to arrive at a long-anticipated encounter with a physical disability, but it actually helped Esav understand something about the brother who stood before him. Yaakov would become identified with Divine assistance precisely because he could not compete with others with his own resources. Yaakov would not be defeated, but the source of his strength was not within him, but in his relationship with Hashem. Esav understood on some level that Yaakov was not the master and source of his good fortune and his very survival. Something higher stood behind him."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)