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.  It would seem he never deals fully with his agitated heart.  He is in a constant cycle.

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 there is more to learn it would seem….because this is ALSO exhausting

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 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 with 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?

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 11 Tevet, 5783

As I continue to recover from being sick. I read this passage this morning and I reflect on this aspect of the scene we are reading about.

Each of the sons had done things that were “questionable.”  And I think there is solace for all of us here. They received blessing; even though they may not have deserved it.

Do we consider ourselves broken? Flawed? Wicked? And that we overcome this to do good?

Or do we consider ourselves good? Kind? Compassionate; and we sometimes miss the mark and make mistakes?

Do we see our inherent worth of a blessing? Or do we believe our inherent value is of cursing?

I think this internal conversation matters.

If we believe we our value is that of being cursed, we will seek out things to try and prove ourselves right, won’t we?

Because if I really dig deep, I’d rather be right than loved. I’d rather believe my assumptions about who I am are correct, than he brought face to face that I may be wrong about myself.

The truth is we are all inherently worthy. We are souls, having a human experience. And sometimes we get messy. Sometimes we do things that are out of line with our character and values.  But we see that as evidence that we are no good. 

But this creation is so beautiful in so many ways. We are not mistakes. We are as we are intended to be. On a journey. A soul experience in a human body. Because that cannot be replicated.

Every soul is part of a larger soul. But each of our souls are having unique experiences on earth here. Not to bring back our memories in our heads. But I believe it’s to bring back our emotional memory. Because that is what the soul is experiencing.

That was the blessing here.  Jacob was blessing the hearts of his children. Did he know they wouldn’t retain the memory of their mistakes? But the emotional memory of being his sons? 

That’s what I’m chewing on.

What do we tend to focus on? Brain memory? Or emotional memory?

How in touch are we with our emotions?  Do we know the difference between being hungry, combined with stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious; vs the emotion of feeling starving, ravenous and desperate for food? 

Those are different feelings. But how much attention do we pay to those differences?

These are the lessons we are here to learn. And we are learning them together.

Let’s close with this. The key of our journey: self compassion. Self empathy. Self kindness. It has to start there. Because if we believe we aren’t deserving of this from our selves, when we receive it from others? How much more will we believe we aren’t deserving of it?

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Tevet 11, 5782

We left off with Jacob blessing Joseph by giving him an extra portion because of the cost to bury Jacob.

Today, we see Jacob calling his sons together in order to reveal what would happen at the End of Days. Whoa.

The Talmud does say Jacob was unable to reveal the time when Messiah would come so he changed the subject to other matters. A lot has been written on this; here is some of it for us to consider;

Rabbi Mordecai Joseph Leiner of Izbica writes this;

Though Jacob wanted to bless his sons, he was doubtful whether he should bless them after the pain they had caused him through the sale of Joseph. Therefore the verse states that he “called,” implying a longing of the heart. He surrendered his heart to God and simply said whatever God put in his mouth. Thus the verse does NOT say “Jacob called for his sons to bless them.”’ because it was not yet clear to him what he was going to say. The Torah only states that Jacob “blessed them” after he finished speaking (in verse 49:28) when it was clear to him all the blessings were from God.

Rashi also writes:

Jacob wanted to disclose to his sons the “End of Days,” when the Messiah would come, but the Shekhinah departed from him, so he began to speak about other things.

Rabbi Naphtali Zevi Horowitz of Ropczce writes:

When Jacob perceived the terrible persecution that his descendants would have to suffer before Messiah would eventually come, he became deeply rejected. That is why the Shekhinah departed from him, because a prophetic spirit will not dwell amid sadness and depression.

Rabbi Judah Aryeh Leib Alter of Gur writes:

Jacob asked his sons to “gather round” to unite together. Through this you will merit ”the End of Days.”

Some really interesting thoughts here!

He then begins with Reuben; his firstborn. His words aren’t really great here for Reuben. Basically he tells Reuben he was privileged with priesthood and kingship, but because of Reubens haste (interfering with Jacob’s bed, being aggressive with carrying out plans, etc) he would not be privileged because he desecrated the Divine Presence which was tested above Jacob’s bed.

Then turns to Simeon and Levi. Because they plotted against Shechem and Joseph their weapons were stolen.

He predicts Simeon’s tribe will conspire against Moses and asks not to mentioned. (Ie don’t say son of Abraham, Son of Isaac, Son of Jacob).

He also predicts Levi’s great grandson Korach will rebel against Moses and again asks his name not be mentioned.

He tells Levi he won’t inherent any land, and will scatter them through out Israel; since Levi will be searching for tithes, and Simeon’s source of income will cause them to spread out.

Something to consider; Levi and Simeon had the best of intentions in eliminating the inhabitants of Shechem – it was defending the honor of Dinah. But Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch writes “But despite their good will, Jacob now condemned their anger. Learn to calm your anger even if you think you have the very best of intentions.” Something I’m chewing on this morning!

Judah is witnessing his brothers being dressed down by Jacob at the end of his life, and begins to back up; but Jacob calls Judah and says “you are not like them!” He tells Judah his brothers will acknowledge him as the leader, and Judah will have power over his enemies. He tells Judah that David is going to emerge from his tribe; first as a lion cub then as a lion. He also alludes to Solomon as part of the blessing. He says “The stick of authority will never leave Judah, nor scholars from the feet of his descendants until the coming of the Messiah.

Next; Zubulun is mentioned before Issachar (who should have been next).

Rabbi Isaac b Joseph Caro writes “zebulun is mentioned first, even though his brother and partner, Issachar, was older. The two brothers had a partnership where Issachar studied Torah for both of them and Zebulun supported both of them. By blessing Zebulun first, Jacob hinted that supporting those who study Torah carries a greater reward that studying it.

Rabbi Schneerson deepens our understanding here; “The majority of Jewish people fall into the category of Zebulun, rather than Issachar. Since this state of affairs is Divinely orchestrated, it follows that God’s plan for creation must be carried out to a greater extent by the businessman than the Torah scholar. – for otherwise, God would have made a world with more Torah scholars than businessmen. This is because the ultimate purpose of creation is that “God desired a home in the lowest realms.” And it is predominantly the businessperson who works in these “lowest realms” with the intention of elevating them to a higher purpose.”

This is really something to reflect on!!!

Finally today, Jacob speaks to Dan. He tells Dan that he will enact vengeance for his people against the philistines and the tribes of Israel will be one. Samson descends from the tribe of Dan; so this is where it is carried out.

Some good things to chew on today!!! What are your thoughts?