[JOI Word of Torah] Big Tent Judaism: Vayetzei

[Kerry M. Olitzky]

"Big Tent Judaism" Word of Torah

 

November 17, 2007 / 7th Kislev, 5768

 

Vayetzei

 

Like so many of the early portions of the Torah, this is a narrative of
journey. And because the Torah is our story and not just the story of our
ancestors, it reflects the fact that we too are on a journey. We move from
one place to another. Sometimes they are the simple journeys of going from
one location to a different one. And other times, they are the metaphysical
journeys of our moving from one stage to another in our lives. Often people
take these journeys and do not reflect on them, nor think about the forces
at play that motivate our movement. In the case of this week's Torah
portion, not only did Jacob acknowledge that there were influences in his
life that directed his travels, but he also took note of the presence of Gd
even in the simple steps along the way. And to make sure that others took
such note, he named the place of his recognition: Bet El-the house of Gd. 

 

Social psychologist and researcher Bethamie Horowitz has taught us through
her work that Jewish identities are not static. Rather, like Jacob, our
identities are reflective of our journeys. They continue to evolve
throughout our lives. And the shortcoming of research is that it usually
only gives us a snapshot of the population under study at any one moment in
time. As a result, it is difficult to draw conclusions for the future from
them. 

 

For me, the lesson of inclusion from this Torah portion is that while we can
know that all of us are on a journey, we cannot know where the journey will
ultimately lead. That is why we have to have to open our gates to the
community so then when one's journey leads people here, we are ready to
receive them with open arms.  

 

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Rabbi Kerry Olitzky is the author of many inspiring books that bring the
Jewish wisdom tradition into everyday life, and is, among other books, the
author of Introducing My Faith and My Community: The Jewish Outreach
Institute Guide for the Christian in a Jewish Interfaith Relationship
(Jewish Lights).

 

To subscribe to the free weekly JOI Big Tent Judaism Word of Torah mailing
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For more information visit: https://joi.org/mailman/listinfo/wordoftorah  

 

You are welcome to use these ideas in your own work and writings as long as
you would be so kind as to credit Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and the Jewish
Outreach Institute, thank you.

 

 

 

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