Shabbat N’kabla: 

Although the mitzvah of donning tefillin always intrigued me as a girl it was many years after my Bat Mitzvah that I realized this mitzvah also belonged to me, a woman.  After learning about women and tefillin in rabbinical school I decided I would start to put on tefillin daily (except Shabbat).  My first pair was given to me by my dad; it was his pair from his Bar Mitzvah. The tefillin I have now were a present from my spouse Ebn, and they were especially made for me by a soferet stam, a woman scribe who wrote the parchments of my tefillin.  

Tefillin or phylacteries in English are a set of small black leather boxes with leather straps, and they contain scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. Tefillin are placed on the left arm, if you are a right-handed, or the right arm if you are a left-handed, and are directed toward the heart.  Tefillin are also positioned on the head, physically where we think and we see.  With tefillin on our arm and on our head this mitzvah has the power to remind us of the connection between mind, heart and action. For me this is the most powerful part of the daily experience. I start my day reminding myself that my learning, the intentions of my heart, and my actions are linked and I am accountable for all three. 

This week's parasha, Toldot, includes the famous story of the rivalry between Esau and Jacob.   Esau sells his birthright to Jacob.  Jacob and Rivkah scheme to trick Isaac, in his blindness, to give Jacob his blessing.  First, Rivkah tells Jacob to go and get two choice kids from his flock so she can make a stew to bring to Isaac; Jacob worries Isaac will recognize that he is not Esau. Next, Rivkah gives Jacob Esau’s clothes so as to disguise his body.  When Isaac calls Jacob to come close, he seems to doubt who is really there with him. Jacob approaches his father wearing the furry clothing of his brother.  We read about Isaac’s hesitation and doubt when the voice he hears is clearly not the voice of his son Esau (Verse 27:22)

“The voice is the voice of Jacob, yet the hands are the hands of Esau.” . Isaac knows  something is wrong as he hears his voice, he asks to also touch his son to see who he really is. The Italian Biblical commentator Sforno explains:

The voice is the voice of Jacob: The voice is distinctly the voice of Yaakov;” Yitzchak was not willing to base his judgment on the voice alone, as people are apt to disguise their voices on many occasions, both voluntarily and involuntarily. However he did not let this disturb him as the evidence of Yaakov’s arms and hands which were hairy were a much better indication that Esau indeed was standing in front of him. This was why he proceeded to give him the blessing he had intended to give Esau. 

These words of Sforno are so powerful: “people are apt to disguise their voices on many occasions, both voluntarily and involuntarily.” Isaac doesn’t trust the voice (though in this specific story, not trusting the voice still led him to bless the wrong child).  Sforno reminds us of that connection between voice and action -- the connection between what we say and what we do.  Sforno also recognizes that sometimes we do not intend to act differently from what we say or to speak differently from how we act, and that sometimes we involuntarily do not walk the talk. 

We can be responsible; we can practice social distancing, wear masks, not attend large gatherings, especially inside gatherings.  We can make these choices and put our values into action this Thanksgiving.  I know it is hard, not being with loved ones and friends this coming weekend, not sitting around the table for hours, eating and talking and connecting with one another.  Those who are in Twitter probably have seen the hashtag #ThanksgivingPledge.  It is a call for people to stay home this Thanksgiving and not to travel, not to be in large gatherings and if you do gather with others to do so only outside and follow strict social distance rules. I am adding to this pledge -- I ask you to call someone you know who is alone this Thanksgiving and check in with them. Tie your actions to your hearts.

P.S: If you want to learn more about tefillin, watch this great video “All Gender wrap” created by Rabbi Rachel Putterman (former TBZ member, now Director of Congregational learning in Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill) and that includes our own Rav Tiferet in it.

We are excited to resume our monthly Nariya Services co-sponsored with Kavod.

Because Nariya is a more public event, we’re asking everyone to register in order to keep our service safe. The Zoom link will be given to you immediately, so it’s ok to register at the last minute:

For Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv we will be using this siddur.

You can also watch it on our YouTube channel live or later in the day. 

Check the Schedule for Shabbat leaders HERE. 

We are so excited that WonderMinyan is happening again this Shabbat! If you missed it last week, here's a sample featuring the cutest little song leader. If you would like to be a part of leading WonderMinyan, you are welcome! Have instruments? Let's do it! Contact Rav Tiferet if you have any questions!

(Every first and third Shabbat of the month) 

www.tbzbrookline.org | 617-566-8171

Rav Claudia, Senior Rabbi - ext. 11, ravclaudia@tbzbrookline.org

Reb Moshe, Founding Rabbi - ext. 12, rebmoshe@tbzbrookline.org

Rav Tiferet, Rabbi of Congregational Learning & Programming - ext. 14, ravtiferet@tbzbrookline.org

Sara Smolover, President - president@tbzbrookline.org

Susan Diller, Executive Director - ext. 10, sdiller@tbzbrookline.org

Beth Ehrenreich, Assistant Director - ext. 17, behrenreich@tbzbrookline.org