tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post116556583352619039..comments2023-03-14T06:56:21.208-07:00Comments on The Relevant Parsha: From Eisav with LoveRabbi Yisroel Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732599880950749051noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-1165722314192092432006-12-09T19:45:00.000-08:002006-12-09T19:45:00.000-08:00Following the lead of the Midrash and Rashi, malig...Following the lead of the Midrash and Rashi, maligning Eisav is the thing to do. I would add that being sweet to our enemies is a dangerous idea for several reasons. Foremost among them, it weakens our position in our own minds. A mentch is a man with the clarity to call a spade a spade.<br />For more on the Jewish attitude to evil, read this article by R. Meir Soloveitchik entitled, "The Virtue of Hate."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0302/articles/soloveichik.html">http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0302/articles/soloveichik.html</a>Rabbi Yisroel Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06732599880950749051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-1165618215466066602006-12-08T14:50:00.000-08:002006-12-08T14:50:00.000-08:00What is the appropriate way to speak about or addr...What is the appropriate way to speak about or address Eisav? Are we permitted to speak lashon harah of one's enemy? May we speak of our enemy in unfavourable terms or must we still be menchedik when speaking about our enemies?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-1165615580839728192006-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:002006-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:00Evil in this case represents a lack of belief in H...Evil in this case represents a lack of belief in HaShem by Esau. During the course of his existence, Esau consciously<BR/>discarded belief in HaShem. The soul of Esau was then polluted. According to Luzzatto, there is a Governing Council of souls, and it would seem that they decreed that this "evil" angel would be sent down to meet Jacob for a specific purpose. That "purpose" was to:<BR/>1. Show Jacob that Esau was 100% evil.<BR/>2. To teach Jacob that there would be an on-going struggle with Esau, but that with patience and fortitude and some pain, Jacob would be triumphant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-1165610443522822582006-12-08T12:40:00.000-08:002006-12-08T12:40:00.000-08:00Great d'var Torah!I brought up the subject the oth...Great d'var Torah!<BR/><BR/>I brought up the subject the other day in the context of Greek culture vs. Judaism (since Hannukah is almost here), and one person had a very negative reaction to my words, saying something to the effect that the "old-fashioned rabbis are killing creativity and keeping us in the dark ages". The embrace of Esav and the darkness of Yavan are very strong indeed.<BR/><BR/>A gutn Shabbos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com