Shabbat Gathering: Wrestling with Hashem.

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom    
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181   
Password: 822665  
Phone: +1 312 626 6799  

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Here we go.

What was Jacob thinking? Here he is, facing yet another in a lifelong series of one crises after another. Nothing comes easy for Jacob and it’s the night before his biggest challenge. All of a sudden, without any warning, someone / something jumps on top of Jacob and starts to wrestle with him. Just what Jacob didn’t need. 

In my mind, I’m uncertain how this wrestling match proceeded. Was it something like college wrestlers scrambling on the floor or was it like something from the World Wrestling Federation with bodies flying through the air?

In the story, it isn’t exactly clear who Jacob is wrestling. Opinions on the identity of his foe vary greatly. Speculation ranges from Satan to Hashem. During the wrestling match, Jacob is injured. One of his hips dislocated and it becomes a permanent wound.

Becoming Jacob.

The other thing I think about in this story is how the winner of the wrestling match was decided and who won. The text doesn’t really tell if there was a winner or not. It’s clear that Jacob has won something, though. Jacob’s reward is his new name, Jacob, which means someone who wrestles with Hashem. 

You might already know that I’m a regular at CSS’s Torah Study chavurah. And I’ve studied the Torah every week for the past 30 years. Torah Study is about friction, putting forward ideas and testing them with the group. We have to use our elbows to get into the flow of the discourse and then, once you have everyone’s attention, you try to say something smart about the text. That happens sometimes and sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s all gentle and supportive. 

Come give it a try! The Torah Study group meets on Shabbat mornings when there aren’t services. If you’re shy, you can always participate over Zoom like I did for years when I was in Arkansas taking care of Mom. It’s all good. 

And may it be for all of us a blessing. 

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

PS

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