In this week’s portion we read the famous story of twin brothers Jacob and Esau. Though twins, they are hardly alike. Esau is outdoorsy, a hunter, his flesh red and hairy. Jacob meanwhile is meek, inclined to be indoors, studious and understated. With Rebecca’s help, Jacob will usurp the birthright and blessing belonging to the older Esau. Disguised as his brother, Jacob will go before an aging Isaac. Dressed as Esau, he will ask for the precious blessing. Isaac goes along with it, noting ‘the voice is the voice of Jacob, yet the hands are the hands of Esau.’ When Jacob receives the blessing, Esau is inevitably furious. He will harbor a profound grudge against Jacob, vowing even to kill him when the time comes.
It is such a powerful story, but such a painful story. It speaks of sibling rivalry, of favoritism, of regret and of atonement. Both boys will evolve overtime, but this episode does not leave them. They will reunite much later and forgive each other, but will forever wonder what might have been.
This story resonates in various ways in late November of 2025. We too cast out those who are different than us. Our world too often chooses violence over dialogue. We covet that which is not ours. We too easily forget that we are all family in the end. We are trapped in a cycle started by Cain and Abel, continued by Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, again and again throughout time.
More pointedly, our nation once and again ‘others’ those who do not meet some imaginary prototypical standard of American. If you are the wrong skin color, the wrong gender, the wrong sexuality, the wrong religion, the wrong understanding of the First Amendment or the Second Amendment, speak the wrong language or look the wrong way, then you are forever seen as a kind of Esau: misguided, unknowing, even lost.
The quintessential ‘sibling rivalry’ takes place day after day in the Middle East, where Israelis and Palestinians continue to do damage to each other. Would that we could live side-by-side. Would that we could remember our shared destiny. We are indeed all children of Abraham, all connected to the Holy Land and all wanting for a future of contentment and peace. I pray for an end to the fighting. I pray for Hamas to be replaced by well-meaning leadership and for Israel and Israelis to live in comfort and safety at last.
I invite you to come hear more about the complexities of Israel these days as we welcome Yaron Shavit to our bimah this Friday night. Yaron is among of the heads of the Jewish Agency in Israel. A distinguished leader and beacon of light for Reform Jews in Israel, he will share his own thoughts and perspective as part of a moving and special Shabbat Illuminated. I would love to have you join us for this unique opportunity.
May we know peace and goodness. May we go from strength to strength. Amen.