3 important reminders from this week's Torah portion, Toldot. Also relevant to the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon:
* What is your goal in life, to destroy others or to build yourself? The portion tells how the Philistines are constantly stuffing and blocking Yitzchak’s water wells and harassing him. It's strange, as these are also their own water sources. But our enemies want to harm us so much that they are willing to harm and destroy even themselves. Unfortunately, this sounds so familiar...
* Prayer. Yitzchak and Rivka pray for 20 years before they are blessed with children. Prayer transforms reality for the better. We must act in this world, but we must also pray. Let us add prayers today for the residents of the north and south, for the soldiers, for the hostages, for our future.
* Good will triumph. From within the difficulty, from the pain and appreciation for all who have fallen and been hurt, from gratitude to those currently on the ground - there is a reminder in the parsha that we are on the good and right side of history. The side of God. The wonderful promises that Yitzchak hears in this week's parsha are being fulfilled in our generation, and they will be fully realized, God willing - in the north and throughout the land. If only as soon as possible: "And I will multiply your offspring like the stars of the sky, and I will give to your offspring all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through your offspring."
May we hear good news.
