Of the six life lessons quoted in the video and which one speaks to you the most and why? Pick one example from your own life when you learned one of the lessons below and how that impacts your outlook in life now.
- It's never too late to start
- Action is the antidote to despair
- Joy grows when it is shared
- One yes can change your life
- A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet
- On the other side of fear hides ultimate bliss
(כד) וַיִּקָּחֵ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖ם אֶת־הַנָּ֑חַל וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֖ר אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ׃ (כה) וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר׃ (כו) וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ ל֔וֹ וַיִּגַּ֖ע בְּכַף־יְרֵכ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֙קַע֙ כַּף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּהֵֽאָבְק֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ׃ (כז)
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי׃ (כח) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (כט)
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃ (ל) וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א שְׁמֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹת֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃ (לא) וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃ (לב) וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־ל֣וֹ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖ר אֶת־פְּנוּאֵ֑ל וְה֥וּא צֹלֵ֖עַ עַל־יְרֵכֽוֹ׃
(24) After taking them across the stream, he sent across all his possessions. (25) Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. (26) When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he wrenched Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the socket of his hip was strained as he wrestled with him. (27) Then he said, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking.”
But he [the angel] answered, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” (28) Said the other, “What is your name?” He replied, “Jacob.”
(29) Said he, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.” (30) Jacob asked, “Pray tell me your name.” But he said, “You must not ask my name!” And he took leave of him there. (31) So Jacob named the place Peniel, meaning, “I have seen a divine being face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” (32) The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping on his hip.
עֵשָׂ֔ו == יעקב
Rabbi Mimi Feigelson
(Mashpiah Ruchanit (spiritual mentor) of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles)
We are often in a rush to get out of uncomfortable situations. We want to solve problems as quickly as we can so that we need not dwell on them. But it appears that bracketing our stay in Mitzrayim with the word 'Mitzrayim' functions as an invitation to actually sit in this space. It seems that the only way out of this constricted state of being is by going through it, not by circumventing it! We can't overcome limitations that we've encountered unless we are willing to own our part in the situation: to be able to name and face our pain, to be able to claim our suffering, to be able to hold our loss. It is only then, when we see ourselves in the light of our darkness that we can truly leave it behind as we walk towards new horizons. We are being asked to dwell in our pain and discomfort so that we will be able to indeed move forward. Without this process, it would appear that we will never be free from that which enslaved us - we would carry it with us, creating new Mitzrayims wherever we journeyed next. We won't be able to truly leave it behind us. We need to be able to name the emotion so that we can find a remedy to heal it.
- Do you agree/disagree with Rabbi Feigelson's premise that we "often rush to get out of uncomfortable situations"? Why or why not?
- Can you give an example from your own life when you rushed to get out of a bad situation/mental state it backfired? When you "rushed" and it was the right choice?
- Have you ever dwelled in an uncomfortable situation that you to truly leave your pain behind?
https://jewishcamp.org/making-mensches/
Our faith tradition prides itself on the values or middot that we hold dear and use as our guideposts along life's path. In times of darkness we look to the value or characteristic of ometz or ometz lev, which literally means “strength” or “heart-strength.” Even if we think of ourselves as fearful, afraid or anxious, our tradition teaches that we all have the ability to to access the quality of ometz lev to pull ourselves out of the dark and narrow places.
Does hardship give us Courage?
ו וכמו שהיה מחכמת האלוה להסב אותם במדבר עד שילמדו גבורה
It was the result of God's wisdom that the Israelites were led about in the wilderness until they acquired courage.
- Do you agree with the sources, does hardship give you courage?
- What are some difficult things you have been through, and how did they change your outlook?
- What is the danger in this philosophy?
Is Strength and Courage the same thing?
(9) “I charge you: Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- In both of these sources "strength" and "courage" seem to be connected? What is the relationship between the two characteristics?
- In Joshua, we are told that God is with us. How might this offer one who is afraid some comfort? What does this look like today? Where do you seek God for strength and courage?
The Courage to Name our Fears
- Some commentators ask, "Why did the Israelites need to stay and witness the Plagues? Why couldn't they be taken out first?" Given Rabbi Mimi's commentary - why was that important?
- The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert before God gave them entrance into the promised land, does this commentary above help you understand why?
- How do we live in our "Mitzrayim" now? How is that courageous and how can it be healing?