Parsha: Vayishlach (2024)
The first time the Torah alludes to the concept of Bar Mitzvah is in a very powerful story of a rescue mission.
The Parsha this week describes how Dina was tragically abducted and taken hostage by Chamor the son of Shchem. At that moment two of her brothers, Shimon and Levi, began to mobilise and came up with a plan to rescue her.
The Torah refers to them each as “איש,” meaning man or “Mensch,” even though they were only 13 years old at the time.
What earned them the title to be called איש – a mensch ?
It was the fact that they cared and were willing to take responsibility for someone else. They were both willing to sacrifice their own safety and comfort for someone else.
This is what it means to be a “Mensch.”
This is why the first mention of a bar mitzvah is learnt from this episode. It teaches us all where our adulthood begins. It begins with empathy and caring for others.
A few years ago, in Seattle there was an Olympic games competition for handicapped children.
In the running competiton there were 9 children competing. They each ran with all the energy they had. Suddenly one of the children fell and began to cry. What happened next surprised all those that were in the audience.
The rest of the children, who were running, immediately stopped. Every single one without exception stopped the race to help this poor competitor get back up.
When their competitor fell down it gave them the opportunity to race ahead and win. But they stopped instead, to care and assist.
This caused the audience to stand and applaud, witnessing a moment of true genuine care and love.
Among the crowd there was a very wealthy and successful business owner, who commented and said.
“This moment changed my life, I realise life is not just about winning and becoming more successful. Life is not about accumulating more and more wealth. Rather life is about being human.”
Let’s be there for others. Even if it means that this will slow down our own success, or keep us from winning the race of life. Because ultimately we will then discover something much more valuable, our inner mensch and our inner soul.
Shabbat Shalom
The Parsha this week describes how Dina was tragically abducted and taken hostage by Chamor the son of Shchem. At that moment two of her brothers, Shimon and Levi, began to mobilise and came up with a plan to rescue her.
The Torah refers to them each as “איש,” meaning man or “Mensch,” even though they were only 13 years old at the time.
What earned them the title to be called איש – a mensch ?
It was the fact that they cared and were willing to take responsibility for someone else. They were both willing to sacrifice their own safety and comfort for someone else.
This is what it means to be a “Mensch.”
This is why the first mention of a bar mitzvah is learnt from this episode. It teaches us all where our adulthood begins. It begins with empathy and caring for others.
A few years ago, in Seattle there was an Olympic games competition for handicapped children.
In the running competiton there were 9 children competing. They each ran with all the energy they had. Suddenly one of the children fell and began to cry. What happened next surprised all those that were in the audience.
The rest of the children, who were running, immediately stopped. Every single one without exception stopped the race to help this poor competitor get back up.
When their competitor fell down it gave them the opportunity to race ahead and win. But they stopped instead, to care and assist.
This caused the audience to stand and applaud, witnessing a moment of true genuine care and love.
Among the crowd there was a very wealthy and successful business owner, who commented and said.
“This moment changed my life, I realise life is not just about winning and becoming more successful. Life is not about accumulating more and more wealth. Rather life is about being human.”
Let’s be there for others. Even if it means that this will slow down our own success, or keep us from winning the race of life. Because ultimately we will then discover something much more valuable, our inner mensch and our inner soul.
Shabbat Shalom