Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12Best Friends. Vayishlach 5783
As he was being pursued by his evil brother Eisav, Yaakov sent angels in attempt to save himself [1]. But is this not a little extreme – surely he could have sent a messenger?
Additionally Yaakov prayed “save me from the hand of my brother; from the hand of Eisav because I am afraid”. But is it fathomable that the righteous Yaakov was afraid of mere flesh and blood?! Furthermore being that Eisav was his (only) brother, why was it necessary to pray to be saved both from “Eisav” and also from “my brother”?
The two great Torah leaders, R’ Chatzkel Levenstein and R’ Shlomo Wolbe, were once walking together, discussing various issues.
“How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?” asked R’ Chatzkel.
“Six million” replied R’ Shlomo Wolbe.
R’ Chatzkel shook his head. “That’s what they say. The reality though is that the entire Jewish nation has been destroyed. Today there are only individuals who present a picture of the true Jew. But as a people, the nation has been lost forever.”
There is a well quoted cliché, and even a song written using the lyrics “never again will there be a Jewish tragedy”. The intent is (or at least should be) that if we remember the past and learn from it, we can hopefully prevent a repeat of what happened. But unfortunately indeed “never again will there be another Jewish tragedy” because there simply can never be another tragedy on such a scale – as a nation we do not have quite that much left to lose any more.
Yaakov was not afraid of the evil Eisav, rather he was afraid that the Jewish nation would be lost to Eisav, and in particular spiritually to the ‘brotherhood’ aspect of Eisav, i.e. his influences.
To be saved and protected from this we really need help; Heavenly help, or in other words we need angels: ‘angels’ created through our prayers and merits, Torah study and observance of the commandments.
A young man once introduced himself as a Holocaust survivor. Being too young to have even been born during the Holocaust, he received some quizzical looks. He explained: “The intent of the holocaust was to destroy every single Jew (in Europe). I was indeed born after the Holocaust, but had I have been born beforehand, I too would have been destroyed, and so I am essentially a Holocaust survivor!”
Whilst that argument might indeed hold true on a physical level, it is surely true on a spiritual level. Anybody who lives like a true Jew today has survived the great Jewish tragedy. The only way to survive the spiritual Holocaust against the Jews is to remember who our real brothers are.
Have a brotherly Shabbos,
Dan.
Additional sources:
[1] Bereishis 32:12
