Our tenth-grade daughter had a history test this week on WWI: the rise of militarism, nationalism, as well as Canada’s role in The Great War. Because I majored in History while in college ("university" if I am speaking Canadian), I was interested in how her teacher taught WWI. I am always amazed how history teachers present History as a simple linear idea without any complexity or an understanding of the nature of people, tribes, and nations. As we studied our discussion moved from Nationalism, Militarism, Alliances, and WWI's aftermath and the rise of fascism. I suggested that we live in a period where fascism is beginning to re-emerge, similar to the aftermath of WWI. Two news stories, one in Poland and one in the United States went unmentioned but illustrated the complexity of the nature of people, tribes, and nations. Last week, Poland celebrated its 99th year of Independence. At the March of Independence parade in Warsaw, approximately 60,000 people were organized and gathered to march my nationalist groups. Signs were held up that read “Sieg Heil”, "Remove Jewry from power”, and “White Europe, Europe must be White”. Some of the marchers wore masks and waved red and white Polish flags while burning flairs. Poland's interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak praised the Poles for marching and showing its national pride. In a smaller march outside of Warsaw led by Jacek Miedlar, a former priest, urged the crowd to take action against the forces of evil that threaten Polish state: "Be ruthless, be radical in the fight against evil, lies, injustice, lawlessness, the destruction of Polish judiciary and Talmudism. Only then this war will be won, and no Jewish Marxist horde will take away our flag or the cross of Christ.” She saw connections to the events in Poland and the “Brexit”, and the elections in France and Germany and the Neo-Nazis Charlottesville, Virginia march. We talked about the role of digital media, Breitbart and Steve Bannon who happily attracts and endorses this kind of thing. I pointed out that while on the one hand he quietly endorses and supports this kind of thinking, he also wants support from wealthy Jewish donors in order to finance political campaigns against those who disagree with his politics. He managed to garner support from wealthy Jewish donors but claiming his steadfast support for Israel. I then showed her the second article, a small article about Sheldon Adelson who finally decided to stop donating to Steve Bannon because he finally realized that fascism, of any kind, destroying democratic institutions, is fundamentally against the interest Diaspora Jews as well as Israel. Our tenth grader learned a valuable lesson about the complexities of history and well as appreciating how ideas and events are connected.
This week’s Parsha is Toldot. We read of the birth of Esav and Yaakov. Even though they were twins, we learn that these boys couldn’t be any different. Esav is a hunter Ish Sadeh – a man of the field, an outdoorsman, Yaakov is Ish Tam v’Yashav b’Ohalo – a simple man who resides in his tent. Yaakov is concerned with the Birthright, receiving blessings and the spiritual world. Esav is concerned with eating, drinking, hunting and the physical world. We learn that just like his father, Avraham, who experienced a famine in the land, Yitzchak also experienced a famine in the land. Unlike his father, Yitzchak does not go down to Egypt. Yitzchak remains, grows wealthy, and re-opens the wells that had gone dry in his father's day. The narrative then re-focuses upon Yitzchak and his family. Yitzchak, sensing his imminent death, wants to bless Esav. Rivka overhears this and tells Yaakov to pose as Esav in order to receive the blessing. Yaakov listens to his mother and dresses as Esav. Yaakov receives Yitzchak's blessing. As a result, Esav is fit to be tied and threatens to kill Yaakov.
At 40, Esav married. As different as the boys were before this, Esav’s marriages reflect his further spiritual diminishment from his mother and father. Esav’s association with these women brings out the worst in him. Va’Yehi Eisav Ben Arbaim Shanah VaYikach Isha et Y’hudit Bat B’Eiri HaChiti V’et Basmat Bat Eilon Ha’Chiti – When Esav was forty years old, he took as a wife Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. Va’Tiheyenah Morat Ruach L’Yitzchak U’l’Rivkah – and they were a source of spiritual bitterness for Yitzchak and Rivka (Gen.26:24). There is a Midrash that tells us that once a species of bird migrated to Eretz Yisrael. The Rabbis were unable to determine whether this new species was kosher or treif. Rabbi Chiya, the leading scholar of his day, said, "Isolate one on the roof and see what kind of birds associate with it." Immediately a raven (which is not kosher) joined the new bird. The Rabbis were able to finally determine that the new species of bird was not kosher. The same was true with regard to Esav when he married both women. They brought out the worst in him, whether it was Avodah Zarah – idolatry, or degrading himself to such a point that he did not warrant receiving the blessing. Of even greater concern to Rivkah and Yitzchak was the departure of the Divine Presence. Remember that when Yitzchak’s mother, Sarah, died, the light in her tent, the holy presence diminished. When Yitzchak married Rivka, the holy presence returned to Sarah’s tent. However, when Esav’s wives became part of Yitzchak’s household, this holy light was vanquished.
Thankfully she did well on her history test. More importantly, our daughter learned a valuable lesson about alliances and connections. Amazingly enough, it took me one evening of studying WWI with her and unfortunately it took Sheldon Adelson years to appreciate the fact that if a person endorses and ultra-nationalist agenda and is supported by neo-fascists, might not be good for the Jewish People nor for Israel. When our daughter asked why it took Adelson so long to come to that realization, I explained that sometimes people get so focused on their agenda; they only listen to what they want to hear instead of paying attention to actions and history. Our daughter then pointed out that people, groups, as well as nations must be careful who they associate with and who they attract. I suppose the next few weeks will be interesting when she studies about the Great Depression and the rise of Fascism in Europe as a prelude to WWII.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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