Parashat Vayishlach

This week's post will be much shorter than usual. I don't know if I am facing creative difficulties for this week because we will not be home for our shabbat meals so I am not as motivated to think, or because the subject matter in this parashah is pretty intense and complex: Yaakov and Esav's tense reunion, Yaakov's nocturnal battle with the angel and his subsequent name change, the violation of Dina and the subsequent massacre in Shechem, Rachel's death, and Reuven's questionable actions in Bilhah's tent. None of these topics make for really light, fun, colorful, or even age-appropriate additions to the shabbat table.

But, because I have made a commitment to myself to try to do the ENTIRE year of parashah, here's a lame (o.k., maybe that's the tie-in!) attempt, that I hope will gain strength next year:

When Yaakov realizes that he is about to encounter Esav whom he had not seen in decades since angering him upon receiving Yitzchak's blessing, the younger brother prepares for the meeting in three ways. He sends gifts to Esav in an attempt at diplomacy, he prays to Hashem, and he divides his camp as preparation for battle. This three-pronged approach to combating an enemy is the paradigm that the Jewish People has often followed (see Megillat Esther, for example). I think that the first approach, diplomacy, lends itself nicely to the table. I would wrap three large boxes and use them as the centerpiece for the meal. Under one would be small gifts for every guest, under the second would be birchonim, and under the third would be toy soldiers. During the meal we would discuss why using diplomacy should be the first communication between enemies. We would try to bring the conversation down to a micro level and talk about interpersonal relationships in the house and how Yaakov's example could help us in our own interactions at home.

As for other parts of the parashah, the only other section I would highlight would be Yaakov's wrestling with the angel. Angel food cake could cover that (as rump roasts aren't kosher!). We would certainly talk about why the Torah states that the violation for eating the gid hanasheh, the sciatic nerve, is Jewish law even until today (when the Torah does not make similar assertions for other mitzvot).

Once more I will ask for you to send any amazing (or even lame) ideas for this parashah. I clearly need to revisit this one for next year!

One more note: a dear friend who has been working on recipes for each parashah suggested making small packages or bundles (puff pastry? vegetables ties up with scallion?) to represent the "pachim ketanim," little bundles that Yaakov forgot on the banks of the river; it was those baskets that he went alone to retrieve when he met up with the belligerent angel.

Have a shabbat shalom!

© Tammie Rapps 2008