64 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG
Isaac’s estrangement key to parasha
I
RABBI STEVE SEGAR
n my previous weekly commentary, I invoked the notion of a “counter-narrative,” a term used by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in his acclaimed book, “Not In God’s Name,” to describe messages that can be discerned below the surface level of the Torah text, grounded in understated linguistic nuances, that may convey very different meanings and implications than those most of us have been traditionally exposed to. The core of the counter-narrative I am arguing for is found in the famous or infamous text of Genesis Chapter 22, also known as “the Akedah” or the binding of Isaac. While this story is most often interpreted to depict Abraham successfully passing God’s testing of his loyalty through his willingness to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice, I believe there exists in the very same text, a counternarrative that subtly points to destructive familial dynamics that are set in motion by the very same act. Last week, we reflected on the fact that when the Torah describes Sarah’s death, it seems clear that Abraham and she are no longer residing in the same locality. In other words, because of Abraham’s act of loyalty to God, his marriage to Sarah was seriously compromised. Other textual elements that suggest destructive family fallout from the binding of Isaac are found in the prior two portions. Two weeks ago, at the end of Veyera, at the conclusion of the binding of Isaac story itself, the Torah shockingly indicates that Isaac does not descend from the mountain with his father after that event comes to what seems to be a redemptive conclusion. Isaac’s absence at this point is especially poignant given the Torah’s emphasis on how the two of them walked “yachdav/together” on the way up. We are left to wonder, where has Isaac gone instead? We get the answer toward the end of the following portion, Chayei Sarah (from last week) when we see Isaac for the first time since his near-sacrifice on the mountain. He is on his way to meet his wife-to-be and cousin, Rebecca, who had been found and recruited to marry Isaac, from among Abraham’s family in Haran, by Abraham’s servant earlier in
Yiddish Vinkl
Shprikhvort (SHPRICH -guttural ch-vohrt)
Meaning: proverb • “A shprikhvort iz a vorvot / a proverb tells the truth.” (bit.ly/1nBDiHo) • “My uncle who loved to eat used to quote a shprikhvort: ‘A hun iz gut tsu esn
Toldot Genesis 25:19-28:9 Malachi 1:1-2:7 the portion. But for the purposes of the counternarrative, what is most instructive is the name of the place where Isaac had been residing up until this point, which the Torah seems to go out of its way to tell us. It is none other than Be’er le chai Ro’I, a location named by Hagar, the mother of Isaac’s half-brother Ishmael, back in Chapter 16. The implication here seems to be that Isaac, in the aftermath of the Akedah, is more identified with those in his household who were regarded as outsiders, not wholly included within the family of Abraham, than he is with his immediate family, especially his father. This line of reasoning is bolstered by other textual evidence such as Isaac not showing up at the funeral for his mother and the absence of any direct conversation between Isaac and Abraham from the time of the Akedah until Abraham’s death. You might understandably ask, how does all of this connect with this week’s portion of Toldot? The answer I would argue is that Isaac’s estrangement from his own father, leads, in a direct line, to his strong preference, after the birth of his own children, for his son Esau, who reminds him of his half-brother, Yishmael, and who represents the opposite of his own tendencies, over his other son, Jacob, who reminds him way too much of himself.
Rabbi Steve Segar is spiritual leader of Kol HaLev, Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Community, in Pepper Pike.
zalbenand – ikh un di hun./ A chicken dinner is best when shared by two - me and the chicken.’” (bit.ly/2Qb3LS3) • “A shprikhvort iz zeyer gut – az men zogt es ven es past. / A proverb is very good as long as you say it when it’s appropriate.” (bit.ly/2SDOHhC)
Shaker Heights resident Harold Ticktin prepares “Yiddish Vinkl” for the Cleveland Jewish News.
NOVEMBER 9, 2018 CONSERVATIVE AGUDATH B’NAI ISRAEL: Meister Road at Pole Ave., Lorain. Mark Jaffee, Ritual Director. SAT. 10 A.M. 440-282-3307. abitemplelorain.com BETH EL CONGREGATION: 750 White Pond Dr., Akron. Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein, Hazzan Matthew Austerklein. FRI. Lev Tahor 7 P.M.; SAT. 9:15 A.M., Mini Minyan 9:30 P.M.; SUN. 8:30 A.M.; WED./FRI. 7:30 A.M. 330-864-2105. bethelakron.com. B’NAI JESHURUN-Temple on the Heights: 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbis Stephen Weiss and Hal Rudin-Luria; Stanley J. Schachter, Rabbi Emeritus; Cantor Aaron Shifman. FRI. Shabbat Service 6 P.M.; SAT. Shabbat Morning Service with guest speaker 9 A.M., 6 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M., 6 P.M.; MON.THURS. 7/7:30 A.M., 6 P.M.; FRI. 7/7:30 A.M. 216-831-6555. bnaijeshurun.org. MONTEFIORE: One David N. Myers Parkway., Beachwood. Services in Montefiore Maltz Chapel. Rabbi Akiva Feinstein; Cantor Gary Paller. FRI. 3:30 P.M.; SAT. Service 10:30 A.M. 216-3609080. PARK SYNAGOGUE-Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo Cong.: Park MAIN 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights; Park EAST 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbi Joshua Hoffer Skoff, Rabbi Sharon Y. Marcus, Milton B. Rube, Rabbi-in-Residence, Cantor Misha Pisman. FRI. 6 P.M. (Park East); SAT. 9 A.M. (Park East), 4:30 P.M. (Park Main); SUN. 8:30 A.M., 5:30 P.M. (both Park East); MON.-FRI. 7:30 A.M., 6 P.M. (both Park East). 216-371-2244; TDD# 216-371-8579. parksynagogue.org. SHAAREY TIKVAH: 26811 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Scott B. Roland; Gary Paller, Cantor Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 6 P.M.; SAT. 9 A.M.; SUN. Minyan 9 A.M. 216-765-8300. shaareytikvah.org.
TORAH | SYNAGOGUE
Havdalah 5:53 P.M.; SUN. Shacharit 8 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 5 P.M.; MON.TUES. Shacharit 6:40 A.M., Minchah/ Ma’ariv 5 P.M.; WED.-THURS. Shacharit 6:40 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 4:55 P.M.; FRI. Shacharit 6:40 A.M. 216-381-4757. GreenRoadSynagogue.org. HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER SYNAGOGUE: 14270 Cedar Road, University Heights. Rabbi Raphael Davidovich. FRI. 7:15 P.M.; SAT Morning Parsha Class 8:30 A.M., Morning Services 9 A.M., Minchah 30 minutes before sunset; SUN. 8 A.M., 15 minutes before sunset; MON.-THURS. 6:45 A.M., 15 minutes before sunset; FRI. 6:45 A.M. 216-3821958, hjcs.org. K’HAL YEREIM: 1771 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Yehuda Blum. 216-321-5855. MENORAH PARK: 27100 Cedar Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Howard Kutner. SAT. 9 A.M., 4:15 P.M.; DAILY Minyan & Breakfast 8 A.M., 4:15 P.M. 216-831-6500. OHEB ZEDEK-CEDAR SINAI SYNAGOGUE: 23749 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. Rabbi Noah Leavitt. FRI. Minchah 4:55 P.M.; SAT. 9 A.M., Minchah/Seudah Shlishit 4:40 P.M., Ma’ariv/Havdalah 5:54 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M.; MON.-FRI. Shacharit 7 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 4:55 P.M. 216-382-6566. office@oz-cedarsinai.org. oz-cedarsinai.org. SEMACH SEDEK: 2004 S. Green Road, South Euclid. Rabbi Yossi Marozov. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat at candlelighting; SAT. 9:30 A.M., Minchah at candlelighting. 216-235-6498. SOLON CHABAD: 5570 Harper Road, Solon. Rabbi Zushe Greenberg. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 5:30 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9 A.M., Service 10 A.M., Minchah 1:30 P.M.; SUN. 8 A.M.; MON-FRI. 7 A.M. 440-498-9533. office@solonchabad. com. solonchabad.com.
EGALITARIAN/TRADITIONAL
TAYLOR ROAD SYNAGOGUE-OHEB ZEDEK: 1970 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Contact the synagogue for service times. 216-321-4875.
BETH EL-The Heights Synagogue, an Independent Minyan: 3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Michael Ungar; Rabbi Moshe Adler, Rabbi Emeritus. SAT. Morning Service 9:15 A.M., Lunch and Learn following services (free, call for reservations). 216-3209667. bethelheights.org.
WAXMAN CHABAD CENTER: 2479 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbis Shalom Ber Chaikin and Moshe Gancz. Minchah 5 P.M., SAT. Shacharit 10 A.M., Minchah 4:50 P.M.; WEEKDAYS Shacharit 7/8 P.M., Minchah 4:50 P.M. 216-381-1770. waxmanchabadcenter@ gmail.com.
INDEPENDENT
YOUNG ISRAEL OF GREATER CLEVELAND: Hebrew Academy (HAC), 1860 S. Taylor Road; Beachwood (Stone), 2463 Green Road. Rabbis Naphtali Burnstein and Aharon Dovid Lebovics. FRI. Minchah 5 P.M.; SAT. Shacharit (Stone) 8/9 A.M., (HAC) 9 A.M., Minchah 4:40 P.M., Ma’ariv 5:52 P.M.; Shacharit: (Stone) SUN. 7:15/8/8:30 A.M., MON./ THURS. 6:40/7:50 A.M., TUES./WED./FRI. 6:45/7:50 A.M., (HAC) SUN. 7:20 A.M., MON./THURS. 6:40 A.M., TUES./WED./ FRI. 6:45 A.M. WEEKDAYS Minchah 4:55 P.M. 216-382-5740. office@yigc.org.
THE SHUL-An Innovative Center for Jewish Outreach: 30799 Pinetree Road, #401, Pepper Pike. Rabbi Eddie Sukol. THURS. Toast & Torah at Corky & Lenny’s 7:30 A.M. See website or call for Shabbat and holiday service dates, times and details. 216-509-9969. rabbieddie@theshul.us. theshul.us.
ORTHODOX AHAVAS YISROEL: 1700 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld. 216-932-6064. BEACHWOOD KEHILLA: 25400 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Ari Spiegler, Rabbi Emeritus David S. Zlatin. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 4:53 P.M.; SAT. Shacharit 9 A.M., Study Group 4 P.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 4:40 P.M., Havdalah 5:55 P.M.; SUN. 7:30 A.M., Minchah/ Ma’ariv 4:55 P.M.; MON.-THURS. Shacharit 6:30 A.M., Minchah/Ma’ariv 7:45 P.M.; FRI. Shacharit 6:30 A.M. 216-556-0010. GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE: 2437 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Binyamin Blau; Melvin Granatstein, Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat 5 P.M.; SAT. Hashkama Minyan 7:45 A.M., Shacharit 9 A.M., Minchah 4:45 P.M.,
Candlelighting time 4:54 Sabbath ends 5:54 Upcoming Candlelighting Nov 16 4:47 Nov 23 4:43 Nov 30 4:39 Dec 7 4:38 ANSHE CHESED Fairmount Temple: 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbis Robert Nosanchuk and Joshua Caruso; Cantor Sarah Sager; Jordana Chernow-Reader, Rabbi-Educator. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat with musical guests 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M., Shabbat Minyan 10:30 A.M., Shabbat Morning Service 11 A.M. 216-464-1330. fairmounttemple.org. BETH ISRAEL-The West Temple: 14308 Triskett Road, Cleveland. Rabbi Enid Lader. Alan Lettofsky, Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Service 7:30 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:30 A.M., Service 11 A.M. 216-941-8882. thewesttemple.com. BETH SHALOM: 50 Division St., Hudson. Rabbi Jim Egolf. FRI. Shabbat Service 7:45 P.M. 330-656-1800. tbshudson.org B’NAI ABRAHAM-The Elyria Temple: 530 Gulf Road, Elyria. Rabbi Lauren Werber. FRI. Shabbat Service with birthday and anniversary blessings 7 P.M. 440-366-1171. tbaelyria.org SUBURBAN TEMPLE-KOL AMI: 22401 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood. Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann; Michael Oppenheimer, D.D., Rabbi Emeritus. FRI. Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Kolot Kol Ami 6 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M. 216-991-0700. suburbantemple.org. TEMPLE EMANU EL: 4545 Brainard Road, Orange. Rabbi Steven L. Denker; Daniel A. Roberts, Rabbi Emeritus; Cantor Richard Lawrence. FRI. Tot Shabbat 5:30 P.M., Shabbat Service 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Parshat HaShavuah 9 A.M., Service 10:30 A.M. 216-454-1300. teecleve.org. TEMPLE ISRAEL: 91 Springside Drive, Akron. Rabbi Josh Brown. Cantor Kathy Fromson. FRI. Service 6:15 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9 A.M., Morning Service 10 A.M. 330-665-2000 templeisraelakron.org. TEMPLE ISRAEL NER TAMID: 1732 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights. Rabbi Matthew J. Eisenberg, D.D.; Frederick A. Eisenberg, D.D., Founding Rabbi Emeritus; Cantorial Soloist Rachel Eisenberg. FRI. 7:30 P.M. 440-473-5120. tintcleveland.org. THE TEMPLE-Tifereth Israel: 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood. Senior Rabbi Jonathan Cohen; Rabbi Roger C. Klein; Associate Rabbi Stacy Schlein; Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo. FRI. Tot Shabbat 10 A.M., Shira Chadasha Musical Kabbalat Shabbat 6 P.M.; SAT. Torah Study 9:15 A.M.; FRI. Tot Shabbat 10 A.M. 216-8313233. ttti.org.
SECULAR/HUMANIST
ZICHRON CHAIM: 2203 S. Green Road, Beachwood. Rabbi Moshe Garfunkel. DAILY 6 A.M., 6:45 A.M. 216-291-5000.
JEWISH SECULAR COMMUNITY: First Unitarian Church, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights. jewishsecularcommunity.org.
RECONSTRUCTIONIST
MIKVAOT
KOL HALEV (Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Community): The Ratner School. 27575 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike. Rabbi Steve Segar. SAT. Shabbat Morning Service 10:30 A.M. 216-320-1498. kolhalev.net.
THE CHARLOTTE GOLDBERG COMMUNITY MIKVAH: Park Synagogue, 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights. By appointment only: 216-371-2244, ext. 135.
REFORM AM SHALOM of Lake County: 7599 Center St., Mentor. Spiritual Director Renee Blau; Assistant Spiritual Director Elise Aitken. 440-255-1544.
THE STANLEY AND ESTHER WAXMAN COMMUNITY MIKVEH: Waxman Chabad House, 2479 South Green Road, Beachwood. 216-381-3170. This is a paid listing with information provided by congregations.