Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Tevet, 5785

Good morning. So interesting this morning. One of the things I was listening to the other day compared the psychological concept of “projection” to just us little kids growing up to find a new way to say “I am rubber, you are glue, everything you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.”

And I laugh.

And I contemplate.

Because what if…..we were right.

EVERYTHING we say bounces off the person we are saying it to, and then returns to us?

Just sit with that.

Because the mature version is this –

We are BOTH rubber. We are BOTH glue. Anything EITHER ONE OF US SAYS bounces off the other, and sticks to us.

And? What we say? Can. Still. Hurt. The. Other.

Words matter. They reflect a heart, don’t they?

And today’s portion addresses some of this as we navigate the blessing given to the tribes of Israel.

Where is our heart?

• Restless
• Anger
• Agitated
• Peaceful

There are OTHER emotions of course.

• Sadness
• Afraid

Though as we discussed yesterday? Anger tends to cover over sadness and fear, right?

The question is – how aware are we of our heart? And how are the people around us? The circumstances around us? Designed for us to “look in the mirror” at what is going on in our own hearts?

This is what I am reflecting on and contemplating this morning.

Can we see those around us as “rubber” in the sense of being mirrors for us? What is this all trying to show us about our hearts?

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 15 Tevet, 5784
Parsha Va-Yehi (Genesis 47:28 – 50:26) 
Fourth Portion: Genesis 49:1 – 49:18

Good morning! It is the fullness of the moon of Tevet! We are in full repair mode!  And we begin our descent into the next moon cycle of Shevat.  To give you a short preview? Shevat is not chaos. It is clarity. The first half is “din” or “harshness” – the fulcrum is Tu’B’Shevat – the new year for trees. The second half of Shevat is blessing. We will discuss this more as we get closer -but just want to give us all a reminder – chaos and order aren’t good or bad. They just are.

This is important to keep in mind as we dig into the portion today. As we are in chaos, we may be craving order – and – we may not like the order we find. We are in repair.  This is the focus. If we can find repair in the chaos, we can CERTAINLY find it in the order, right?  Let’s keep our eyes on repair. 

As I reviewed my thoughts from the past two years – most of the days I do this, I tend to use them as a foundation for my thoughts this year.  This morning feels different. We will see how this all unfolds. Let’s dig in.

Before we go further, after finishing my thoughts.  This is important to remember from yesterday as it carries over, it would appear:

This inspired me this morning to reflect and take what I learned from Mark Nepo.  I believe I co-created with Mark Nepo and a friend something crucial for us on this journey to spiritual liberation and freedom:

“The journey of the divine masculine is to move from an agitated heart to a peaceful heart in each moment we come to.”

“The journey of the divine feminine is to move from a passive heart to an active heart in each moment we come to.”

Within us – this is harmony and balance. An active peaceful heart vs an agitated passive heart.

This is beautiful. This is love.

As we live in this light today, where do we see ourselves on the matrix?

• • Active Peaceful Heart?
  • Active Agitated Heart?
  • Passive Peaceful Heart?
  • Passive Agitated Heart?

Also, the context from yesterday was about perspective.  We leave off with Israel blessing Jospeh, and giving him an extra portion.  The sages share this was because Israel knew it was going to cost extra to bring Israel’s body back to the promised land.  With this, let’s dig into today’s portion:

1Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days.

2Gather and listen, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel, your father.

Immediately we notice that Israel has shifted to Jacob. This is fascinating to me. Israel was the one who blessed Joseph, Ephraim, and Menasseh. Today it is Jacob who tells his sons what is going to happen at “the end of days.” Jacob is predicting their future it would seem.

I am curious – is this coming from Jacob because this is ONE possible future? And is this a future Jacob is sharing with his sons to have an impact on their lives towards a DIFFERENT future?

I am struck by this thought.  Because as Jacob gathers around his sons – it is almost as if what follows in the Torah is Jacob saying “I see you.” Or “You matter.”

Going into this passage – I am reflecting on our takeaway here.  I wonder if we are meant to “see ourselves” in the sons of Jacob here.  Because again, these aren’t listed as blessings.  It almost feels like Jacob is saying “in the midst of your chaos – if you are stuck and don’t change, this is where you will end up….it’s not too late to change.”

That last part is my thought – it’s not too late to change.  Let’s dig in:

3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the first of my might. [You should have been] superior in rank and superior in power.

4[You have] the restlessness of water; [therefore,] you shall not have superiority, for you ascended upon your father’s couch; then you profaned [Him Who] ascended upon my bed.

Reuben is the oldest. He is strong. He is Jacob’s strength.  He should be at the top.  However. He is restless. Like water. 

Strength and power? If it is combined with restlessness? We have an agitated, active heart, don’t we? Power with agitation and being active can do a LOT of damage. 

The takeaway? If we are feeling restless? We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the restlessness – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage. Lean into feeling restless if that is how we are feeling in a given moment.

Let’s move on:

5Simeon and Levi are brothers; stolen instruments are their weapons.

6Let my soul not enter their counsel; my honor, you shall not join their assembly, for in their wrath they killed a man, and with their will they hamstrung a bull.

7Cursed be their wrath for it is mighty, and their anger because it is harsh. I will separate them throughout Jacob, and I will scatter them throughout Israel.

Simeon and Levi are treated here as a unity. A partnership.  “Stolen instruments are their weapons.”  Simeon and Levi take. That is their struggle. They don’t give. They take. Jacob tells us – don’t listen to those who take. That is the way to murder.  Jacob does NOT curse them.  He curses their wrath.  It’s almost a double negative, isn’t it?  Cursing wrath?  If they do not get a handle on it? They will be separated and scattered.  Once again, we see an agitated, active heart – navigating anger and wrath. Not. Good.

Wrath and anger? We need to repair this.  We aren’t broken – but the anger and wrath – if it is not dealt with? Can cause EVEN MORE damage. 

The takeaway? If we are feeling angry? If we are feeling wrathful?  We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the anger and wrath – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage. Lean into feeling anger and wrath if that is how we are feeling in a given moment.

Let’s keep going.

8Judah, [as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you. Your hand will be at the nape of your enemies, [and] your father’s sons will prostrate themselves to you.

9A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah. From the prey, my son, you withdrew. He crouched, rested like a lion, and like a lion, who will rouse him?

10The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the student of the law from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him will be a gathering of peoples.

11He binds his foal to a vine, and to a tendril [he binds] his young donkey. [He launders] his garment with wine, and with the blood of grapes binds his raiment.

12[He is] red eyed from wine and white toothed from milk.

This is an interesting shift, isn’t it? Verse 9 seems to be a key verse: “From the prey, my son, you withdrew.”  It would seem Jacob is discussing an agitated, passive heart here.  And. Judah was able to calm his heart – and be peaceful and passive. He found rest.

Jacob seems to indicate in verse 10 – as long as Judah continues this path? He will lead.  People will be gathered to Judah with his peaceful and passive heart. Until “Shilo comes” 

There is a LOT written about Shiloh. Here is a good resource to learn more.  But the word literally means “Abundance” or “Tranquil” or “His gift.”

Rashi declared Shiloh to mean “Moshiach” – Messiah.

And I think this is fascinating.  Because we are moving from an Agitate, Active heart (with the first three sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi) to Judah – who starts as an agitated, passive heart but seems to find peace.  He becomes peaceful and passive. Until something happens.  And what is this?  Verse 11 and 12 hold the keys.   “He binds.”

We see Judah move from a peaceful, passive heart – drawing people to him. And then? Abundance comes. And what does Judah do with his peaceful, passive heart?  He becomes ACTIVE. Only when we recognize Moshiach.  The abundance, the tranquility.

And. He exhausts himself.  There would seem to be more to learn.

The takeaway? If we are feeling agitated?  We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the agitation – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage.

 However. RECOGNIZING the agitation? Withdrawing from the source of agitation, finding PEACE in our hearts about the situation? That will repair. And. Bring abundance. Then? We can respond. Take action. Respond. Not react. This is the way of leadership.

 And. Something is missing.

Let’s keep going.  This is FASICNATING so far!

13Zebulun will dwell on the coast of the seas; he [will be] at the harbor of the ships, and his boundary will be at Zidon.

We seem to switch gears here, don’t we?  Like we are meant to get the message from above. We almost see a passive, peaceful heart here, right? And Zebulun becomes a harbor – which creates SAFETY for others passing through. And, he has BOUNDARIES. 

The takeaway? If we are feeling peaceful and passive?  We need to PROTECT this. Be a safe place for OTHERS to enter into our worlds. Give them safe passage on their journey.  Set up BOUNDARIES for ourselves to protect our PEACE.

 Whoa. This is really evolving, isn’t it? Let’s keep going:

14Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, lying between the boundaries.

15He saw a resting place, that it was good, and the land, that it was pleasant, and he bent his shoulder to bear [burdens], and he became an indentured laborer.

Issachar’s message from Jacob seems to be that he is on the EDGE.  He seems to have peace. He is strong. But may not be as passive as Zebulun. He is active – peaceful and active heart. He is focused on rest and pleasantry. He worked and was active in trying to maintain rest, peace, and pleasantry.  And what happens? He becomes a slave to it.

The takeaway? If we are feeling peaceful and active?  We need to be CURIOUS about this.  HOW we take action matters.  Working to stay on the edge – between two boundaries – in order to “keep the peace?”  That is the path to slavery and servitude. 

 I’m just chewing on those of us who work tirelessly to keep the peace between others. We become an indentured laborer.  Let’s keep going:

16Dan will avenge his people, like one, the tribes of Israel.

17Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper on the path, which bites the horse’s heels, so its rider falls backwards.

18For Your salvation, I hope, O Lord!

So this part creates some cognitive dissonance doesn’t it? Avenge. Serpents. Vipers. Biting. Falling.

However, let’s consider the hypothesis we are working with. Unlike Issachar, might Dan represent a peaceful, active heart? But this activity is centered around JUSTICE? Dan seems to work towards justice here, doesn’t he?  Jacob acknowledges – Dan is the real FIRST avenger (sorry Captain America).  The Marvel movies – Avengers are the heroes. But for some reason, when I read this passage in the Torah? It sounds like Dan is a villain.  Because snakes.  I hate snakes.  Because of Genesis. The serpent.

But this is BEAUTIFUL and poetic, isn’t it?  Because the Torah seems to say the snake is healed here – instead of biting man – Dan becomes a snake – wise, cunning – but instead of evil intent – instead of agitation in his heart – he has peace.  Peace plus wisdom plus cunning?  That is justice. And. Jacob seems to indicate in verse 18 that HE recognizes this!!!!  “For Your salvation, I hope, O Lord!”

But one more thing – in verse 16? WHO does Dan avenge? “his people, like one, the tribes of Israel.”  Dan does NOT avenge him or his tribe.  It’s all of them. This INCLUDES Reuben, Simeon, and Levi – who were agitated and active. This includes Judah, Zebulun, and Issachar – who were peaceful and passive – with Judah BECOMING active. Dan is peaceful and active. And works on behalf of OTHERS. He is not living according to his ego.

The takeaway? If we are feeling peaceful and active?  We need to rely on WISDOM and CUNNING to respond in a way that acts towards JUSTICE FOR ALL.  For those who are agitated, for those who are passive, for those who have hurt us.  Judah gave us the process – Dan gave us the action.

 This would ALSO seem to indicate what Judah was missing.

 This is SUPER fascinating!  We’ve been through seven brothers. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, and Dan.  And we have laid out the following lessons to summarize:

If you did the homework yesterday? Where were you? Where are you now?

• Active Peaceful Heart?
• Active Agitated Heart?
• Passive Peaceful Heart?
• Passive Agitated Heart?

With an agitated heart:

• If we are feeling restless? We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the restlessness – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage. Lean into feeling restless if that is how we are feeling in a given moment.
• If we are feeling angry? If we are feeling wrathful? We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the anger and wrath – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage. Lean into feeling anger and wrath if that is how we are feeling in a given moment.
• If we are feeling agitated? We need to repair this. We aren’t broken – but the agitation – if repressed and not dealt with? Can cause damage.
  • RECOGNIZING the agitation? Withdrawing from the source of agitation, finding PEACE in our hearts about the situation? That will repair. And. Bring abundance. Then? We can respond. Take action. Respond. Not react. This is the way of leadership.

With a peaceful heart:

• If we are feeling peaceful and passive? We need to PROTECT this. Be a safe place for OTHERS to enter into our worlds. Give them safe passage on their journey.  Set up BOUNDARIES for ourselves to protect our PEACE.
• If we are feeling peaceful and active? We need to be CURIOUS about this.  HOW we take action matters.  Working to stay on the edge – between two boundaries – in order to “keep the peace?”  That is the path to slavery and servitude. 
  • If we are feeling peaceful and active? We need to rely on WISDOM and CUNNING to respond in a way that acts towards JUSTICE FOR ALL.  For those who are agitated, for those who are passive, for those who have hurt us.  Judah gave us the process – Dan gave us the action.

Ok. And interestingly – we close with Gad:

19[As for] Gad, a troop will troop forth from him, and it will troop back in its tracks.

Um. A troop will troop forth? It will troop back?  Troop? Three times in this closing verse. The eighth son of Jacob. What is UP here? Why does the portion end HERE? Troop?

Soldiers. A soldier with soldier forth from Gad. It will Soldier back in its tracks.

What is a soldier? A person who serves in an army.

This portion seems to be sending the message – look – follow the first seven sons? You will serve Hashem. Your service will activate forth from you. AND? It will come back.  This is the cycle. It’s almost an infinity sign. This is the birth. This is the beginning. Serve from a place of peace. From wisdom. From cunning – and whatever you serve with? It will come BACK to you:

• Serve with an agitated, active heart? You will serve me and it will return back to you with active agitation.
• Serve me with an agitated, passive heart? You will serve me by waiting, and wisdom will come when it needs to and you will take action – and that action will return to you.
• Serve me with a peaceful, passive heart? You will serve me and exhaust yourself where you are, and you will never move. You will be stuck. You won’t go out. And it won’t come back. You can’t keep the peace between boundaries.
• Serve me with a peaceful, active heart? You will serve me with wisdom and cunning. And you will bring justice. And justice will return.

Whew. This is a lot.  What are your thoughts?