Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 6 Tevet, 5785

Good morning! As we spend this last week in the book of Genesis, we see Jacob/Israel on his death bed. He has returned and seen his son Joseph – and Joseph’s children.

I wrote this a year ago about perspectives:

In reflecting on the chaos of our lives these past two weeks – what patterns emerge where we need to be open to a DIFFERENT perspective and reality from someone else – as opposed to forcing them into OUR reality?

What patterns are emerging for us? Where are we not feeling safe?

Tevet is a month of Chaos and Repair.

Repair requires restoration and healing. When we are stuck, the chaos pushes us to dig deeper. To be curious.

I have been ruminating on a word this morning – “soothing.”  What an amazing word.

The definition of soothing is “To gently calm (a person and their feelings); or reducing pain or discomfort.”

What soothes us?

Is it food? Shopping? Video Games? Books? Sex? Alcohol? Music?

What soothes us?

Why do we choose what is soothing? How do we choose what is soothing? Why is it for some, music soothes but can be painful for others? Why is food soothing but for others it triggers pain?

There is another older definition of soothing – the origin of the word is “verify – show to be true.”

We see this in the idea of soothe sayers, right?

So I connect all of this with the truth. The truth brings us back to safety.

The issue becomes? Those things that soothe us? Become the focus instead of the safety and truth it brings.

In each moment. We are safe. With each breath we take. We are safe.

And? We get caught up in a future that isn’t safe. We get caught up in a past that isn’t safe.

And? Death looms over us – creating a sense of fear.

Soothing. Let’s go back to the original soothing. Having six kids? I can tell you the FIRST soothing thing for the kids? Nursing at a mothers breast.

Think of the chaos of child birth. Especially from the perspective of the baby. They enter this world fairly violently. Blood. Body fluids. Pain. Chaos.

And almost immediately, they are placed on their mother’s breast to nurse.

Soothing.

Truth.

The children in the Torah portion today? They were being verified as true. Jacob/Israel placed his hands on them to bless them. They we connected to their father Joseph and their grandfather. They were connected.

Jacob’s life was chaos. Joseph’s life was chaos. And yet? They remained soothed. They remained at peace.

Equanimity.

So the energy right now? Is all about chaos – for the purpose of repair. For the purpose of truth. For the purpose of exposing in our lives the strategies we use to soothe ourselves. To remind us we are indeed safe.

Whether we need that bottle of alcohol and the numbness that comes with it? It reminds us we are safe. It soothes us.

We can judge that – look down upon that – or we can look within and ask ourselves – are we focused on soothing ourselves or the truth that we are safe?

Chaos brings us back to the truth of safety

Receive the chaos. It could be soothing if we let it.

I wrote this as a closing thought from the book of  Genesis – and it seems apropos.

The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement

• • The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity

The chaos brings the freedom and liberation of a choice. Curiosity or Judgment. The freedom to choose is ours.

And? If we choose judgment? That’s ok. (Judge not lest ye be judged anyone?).  Because we will always get another moment. And another. And another.

And for those of us who believe death is not the end? We believe we -the royal we that includes those who believe death is the end – will still get more moments after we leave the clothing of our current bodies.

All of life is a choice. The past and future are just ones and zeros in our brains and mind. The mind is the employee. The boss is our heart and soul. Our bodies.

This is why soothing is so important. Because we are safe.

We. Are. Safe.

Anger is safe.

Fear is safe.

Sadness is safe.

And that? Is soothing.

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 13 Tevet, 5784
Parsha Va-Yehi (Genesis 47:28 – 50:26)
Second Portion: Genesis 48:10 – 48:16

Good morning!  For those who celebrate – Merry Christmas!  May our days all have meaning within us – regardless of our spiritual backgrounds and identities!

Yesterday’s Torah Thoughts were A LOT.  Restoration. Healing. Repair.  Thank you to everyone who reached out to share the impact the words had on them!  As we approach the fullness of the light of this Chaos/Repair moon cycle, things are getting VERY interesting! 

We left off yesterday with Israel inquiring about his grandkids – Ephraim and Menasseh. Israel asked Joseph to bring them close to him.  Let’s dig in:

10Now Israel’s eyes had become heavy with age, [to the extent that] he could not see. So he drew them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

11And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not expected to see [even] your face, and behold, God has shown me your children too.”

Israel is fully in his divinity here. He never expected to see Joseph again – but his willingness to let Benjamin go has resulted in not JUST Joseph – but Joseph’s offspring.

What is interesting to me is the word “shown.”  I am curious – and we don’t REALLY know for sure – but were Israel’s eyes open to be able to SEE his grandkids? The context seems to indicate this is true.  For me, when I read “I had not expected to see your face” Israel was talking about laying eyes on Joseph.  That tells me – this was an “eye opening” experience for Israel.

My takeaway here. I think what this is showing us – Israel – EVEN IN his divinity – can still have his eyes opened. 

My brain often reflects on Jacob having his eyes opened and becoming Israel.  The Torah seems to challenge this assumption.  We can be worldy (Jacob) have our eyes opened and become Godly (Israel).  And.  We can be Godly (Israel) and STILL have our eyes opened. It’s not either/or – it’s both/and.

And I often get into a space where I think and feel like I am being “spiritual” and refuse to acknowledge my eyes can be opened. I often think “oh, I am done here!” Maybe I engage with someone who I help them unlock something within them – and feel good about that growth for them.  But never stop to consider their unlocking could ALSO unlock something in me. And. Vice Versa.

Ok – let’s keep going.

12And Joseph took them out from upon his [Jacob’s] knees, and he prostrated himself to the ground.

13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim at his right, from Israel’s left, and Manasseh at his left, from Israel’s right, and he brought [them] near to him.

Ok. This is odd. So Israel is grateful. His eyes are opened. I wonder if Joseph saw this as a miracle (he likely did) – and he took the children off Israel’s knees (the Torah insinuates Jacob – but the Torah doesn’t mention specifically either Jacob or Israel’s name here) – and he prostrates himself on the ground.

This would seem to indicate this was indeed a miracle. Israel’s eyes were opened.

Now verse 13 requires some visualization.

Joseph is facing Israel.
Ephraim is on Joseph’s right, Menasseh is on Joseph’s left.

Close your eyes and picture that from Joseph’s perspective. 

Now. As Israel is looking at Joseph and his kids, Ephraim is on Israel’s right, and Menasseh is on Israel’s left.

And. Joseph brings the boys back close to Israel.

My question here – why? Why does the Torah mention this? What is the significance of this? Why does the order here matter?  And why does the Torah remind us that depending on perspective (Joseph vs. Israel) – the order is DIFFERENT?

I wonder if this is confirmation of what we learned earlier in Genesis. Almost like a review. We talked about different perspectives. Jacob and Esau’s reality.  Jacob was afraid of Esau, where Esau may have been at peace with Jacob. Is this confirmation the Torah is reminding us there is a multiverse of realities?

Let’s bring this within us. Maybe today, as the light of the moon reaches it’s fullness in chaos and repair.

In reflecting on the chaos of our lives these past two weeks – what patterns emerge where we need to be open to a DIFFERENT perspective and reality from someone else – as opposed to forcing them into OUR reality?

Because here is the question about verse 13:

13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim at his right, from Israel’s left, and Manasseh at his left, from Israel’s right, and he brought [them] near to him.

As we read verse 13, was Ephraim on the left or right? Was Manasseh on the left or right?

The ONLY truth is (as Rabbi Meir likes to say the answer to most questions about the Torah) – “It depends.”

We hate the answer “it depends” don’t we?

Was Ephraim on the left or right? Was Manasseh on the left or right?  It depends. On what?

Perspective.

If I insert myself into this scene. I can make an argument for either.

And. I can do it in a way that invalidates someone’s truth.

If I fight for Manasseh – and say he is on the left? I am validating Israel, and invalidating Joseph.

If I say he is on the right, I am validating Joseph, and invalidating Israel.

And yet, the question is valid. It all depends on perspective:

• From Israel’s perspective, Manasseh was on the right
• From Joseph’s perspective Manasseh was on the left

And what about from Manasseh’s perspective?  What would HIS truth be? Now this is where I think it gets fascinating:

• If Manasseh uses his eyes – he sees Israel. He sees Israel to the right of him. Manasseh might answer “I am on the left.” Which would validate his father’s perspective, right?
• If Manasseh looks BEYOND his eyes – to his consciousness? There are many more possibilities:
  • Manasseh could see Israel to the right, but move his consciousness into Israel – and gain perspective that Manasseh is on the right.
  • Manasseh could see Israel to the right, but move his consciousness into his father Joseph and confirm that Manasseh is on the left.
  • Manasseh could see Israel to the right, but move his consciousness into the past to when he was sitting on Israel’s lap, and confirm he was on the right.
  • Manasseh COULD see Israel to the right, move his consciousness between BOTH realities, AND his past, and determine – there is no “right” answer to the question. He can choose to see it as both/and.

This;. This is the lesson of the Torah. PERSPECTIVE. So many of us fight for “right” or “wrong.” And this is about JUDGMENT.  We do this WITHIN ourselves. We do this with others. I go back to our FIRST lesson in Genesis that we took away on 25 Tishri.

The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement

• The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity

This. So today. On Christmas.  Where are we judging? Where do we need to see life as both/and?   Let’s keep going.

14But Israel stretched out his right hand and placed [it] on Ephraim’s head, although he was the younger, and his left hand [he placed] on Manasseh’s head. He guided his hands deliberately, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15And he blessed Joseph and said, “God, before Whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked, God Who sustained me as long as I am alive, until this day,

16may the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the land.”

Whoa. Israel seems to VALIDATE Joseph here, doesn’t he? He can RECOGNIZE his reality and his perspective is different.  It isn’t even ABOUT left or right. It’s about older/younger.

The left hand was for the older. The right was for the younger. Or was it? Because the Torah says “even though” which feels like the Torah is saying the right is for the older – the left for the younger.  Again – the Torah is seemingly turning these notions of right/wrong on their head, aren’t they?

What if? Right/wrong is a human concept and not of the Torah? What if – each moment – just “is?”

How would this impact our lives moving forward? This is the question! 

Those are my thoughts today! What about you? What are yours?