This week’s Haftorah has its connection to the Parshah in G-d’s declaration that though Esau and Jacob were brothers, He loved Jacob and hated Esau. The rest of the passage, however, is devoted to the somewhat contrary notion, that though all nations in some way worship G-d, it is davkah the Jews that despise His service. This idea that all peoples recognise in some way a supreme Creator, is one that is found throughout the Bible. Abraham, as we read recently, gave a tithe to Melchizedek, the non-Jewish priest-king of Jerusalem. The idea that it is davkah the Jews that let G-d down, is also not uncommon. Rashi, explains in several places that the Jewish propensity to idolatry sometimes exceeded those of their gentile neighbours, worshipping idols that no one else did. This trend can also be seen today. It is often the case that Jews are among the most secular people in society. Indeed more people say they believe in G-d in America than they do in Israel. What is at the root of this apostasy. The prophet Malachi sees its basis in a contempt for religious idealism. Jews are nor overtly anti-religious; they simply are often religiously apathetic. It Malachi’s time, this took the form of bringing poor quality sacrifices to the Temple. ‘Offer it to your Governor’ challenges the prophet; referring to the Persian satrapy of Judea. To be in with the ruling Persians was important; to serve G-d properly was less so. Simply speaking, Judaism came second to other more important things. The same is true for many, if not most Jews today. The reasons, I believe, are similar as well. It is not easy, nor popular, being a chosen people. For the Jewish people, the basic struggle to survive and prosper was enough. The Jews who returned from Babylon were mostly poor and struggled to exist. They simply had little time for spiritual things. Today, also, despite apparent freedom and material prosperity, Jews are tired. Tired after the suffering of the Holocaust, tired from the struggle for the survival of Israel, worried about their future in an increasingly unfriendly world. They simply don’t have time left for real engagement with Judaism. All this is understandable but totally wrong. It is only be engagement with their Jewish roots that Jews can hope to survive. It is only by spiritual renewal that we can find the strength to defeat the challenges that threaten to overwhelm us. As in Malachi’s day, it is a renewed Judaism that is the only sure future for Jews.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

 Sidra Statistics

Parshat Toldot

·         has 106 verses ;

·         is the 6th in Genesis, 6th in the Torah

·         9th longest in Genesis, 31st longest in the Torah

·         has no mitzvot.