Tomorrow is the New Moon

BH

This week’s Parsha, Toldos, discusses the birth of the twin sons of Yitzchak and Rivka (Isaac & Rebecca), Yaakov and Esav (Esau & Jacob). The two had a very interesting relationship from day one. Yaakov was born second, arriving with his fist clasped to Esav’s heel. Esav was hairy and manly, Yaakov, calmer and weak. Esav preferred to hunt, Yaakov to to study Torah.

As the Torah relates, Yitzchak in fact preferred the more wild Esav, while Rivka favored the more spiritual Yaakov. Further down the road in this Torah portion, we see Esav arrive from the field one day. After a day’s work in the field, hunting and the like, Esav was hungry. Yaakov had a fresh prepared stew.

Yaakov negotiates a pretty unique trade. A trade probably not seen often before or since this historic barter: Pipin’ hot, fresh and home-made Red Lentil soup for Esav;s birthright as Yitzchak’s firstborn son.

Another incident between the two, perhaps the duo’s most well known, sees Yaakov fool his father into giving him Esav’s blessing (which he technically deserved after ‘acquiring the birthright’ in exchange for hot soup). Yaakov even paid a visit to the costume shop to complete the scheme. Hairy arms and all. He succeeded. And whats more? His mother coordinated the con!

You think Yaakov wished to parade past his blind father in effort to fool him? Yaakov, one of the founders of our people, was not the type. He actually felt to a degree, that the blessing was not for him. The blessing was worldly, he was a man of the books. However, it was the wish of his mother that had him standing there in his get’up. She foresaw the importance it would make to the entire world, then and well into the future.

This Sunday the world observes a commemoration. A Yahrtzeit. An anniversary. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivky Holtzberg, the Chabad couple that was stationed in Mumbai, India were taken from the world on that day, in 2008. They, the four guests at their Chabad House and 167 other innocent people lost their lives at the hands of cowardly terrorists.

Question: Do you think Rabbi Gavriel and Rivky Holtzberg truly wished to settle in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, India? Were they the type to take interest in the Southeast Asian cultures and activities. Not by a long shot.

Why were they there? Because their mother requested it. Well, to be more accurate, because their Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (“The Rebbe”), requested it. The Rebbe wanted the Holtzbergs in Mumbai. He foresaw the importance of it.

The Holtzbergs manned their posts faithfully just as the 4000+ Chabad emissaries (“Shluchim”) (that are gathered this week in Brooklyn for the annual Convention of Chabad Rabbis - the “Kinus Hashluchim”) do around the globe. They don’t necessarily feel comfortable where they are or the circumstances they’re in. But they remain. Their Rebbe asked them to.

This coming Sunday is Rosh Chodesh (beginning of the new Jewish month). As the Jewish calendar revolves around the moon, I’d like to borrow a lesson from it.

Every 15 days the moon goes through a cycle. From full to hidden. Every month, the same pattern. The Jewish people have found themselves following this patter for most of their existence. We hit a low spot, with G-d seemingly hidden. Just wait, that full, bright moment awaits around the corner.

With the Mumbai attacks and the murder of so many innocent people, including the Chabad Emissaries, that could easily be considered a low. An “empty moon” moment. But the response taken in its aftermath is certainly the full blossom that was meant to follow.

Even more Chabad Houses, even more Torah classes. More Jewish identity. They tried to destroy. They failed. We defeated them again!

May we merit soon, the coming of Moshiach, which will be the ultimate full moon, as the haftarah of this week states (I-Samuel, 20:18) “Tomorrow is the new moon.”

May it indeed be tomorrow.