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After the devastating attacks in Paris last Shabbos, there is much heated debate about whether or not to allow refugees into our country. Freedom for all or freedom for ISIS is the burning issue. Do we provide safe haven for helpless and persecuted refugees or will they take advantage of us and use our kindness against us as they did in Paris?

I can personally appreciate the passion of this debate, having become a naturalized citizen of this great country after years of patience and hard work.  Indeed, the Torah portion this week, speaks of Jacob escaping from Esau who is trying to kill him, making him the first refugee in the Torah.

There is a touching chassidic tale of a man who travelled a great distance to see a sage. When he finally met him, he was struck by the simplicity of the sage's home. When asked where his furniture was, the sage responded with the same question: "I don't see your furniture either! Where is yours?" Naturally the visitor responded that he was but a traveller and therefore had no need to carry all his possessions with him when he travelled, to which the sage replied: "Well, I am just like you! I too am a traveller in this world. All my possessions and valuables are spiritual in heaven. In this world, I prefer to travel with only my basic necessities."

You can watch this story as performed by "8th Day", a Chassidic Rock Band, in a music video here:  https://youtu.be/ FhSG1aEvChA

With his poignant analogy, the sage made a very powerful point: None us truly belongs in this world. We are here on a brief mission for 70 or 80 years until we return home. Indeed, we all are refugees.

A parallel truth is the theme of our soul stirring JLI Course: "The Journey of the Soul" during which, much to the surprise of the students, I emphatically declared, "The Torah teaches us that we don't have a soul!" The reason is that we are a soul. We have a body, but we can't have something that we already are!

Whatever side of the refugee debate you are on, most concur that measures should be put in place to ensure that refugees are not dangerous and that they won't become a burden on society. 

Let us practice what we preach. Since are souls are also refugees in this world, let us meditate upon this point and recognize the purpose for which we have arrived here. Let us make sure we are not squandering our time in this world but rather living spiritually productive lives that benefit the wonderful world in which we live!

A childhood friend of Chana's was yesterday stabbed 9 times in a popular restaurant in Milan, where we were just months ago. A father and soon were killed today in Israel as they were heading to the wedding celebration of their daughter and sister. A 25 year old woman, described as an angel, was stabbed in the throat. Though she miraculously survived a similar attack several years ago, she died from her injuries today.

Just when we thought that the terror against our people couldn't get worse, the EU is adding insult to injury by creating a new form of antisemitism. Despite the fact that there are 200 nations with territorial conflicts, the single one to be forced by the EU to label their products is Israel, causing indirect sanctions against our beloved Holy Land. And this is despite the fact that Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria is actually legal according to international law (2012 Levy Report).

As our blood boils and we feel isolated, humiliated, unsafe and vulnerable; we struggle for a sensible response.

The Torah is not just a history book; it's a life coach and GPS for life. The very word means 'Guide'.

When Isaac is faced with a dramatic confrontation in this week's Torah portion, his superb response serves as a timeless lesson and guide for us today too. If not, there would be no purpose in the Torah telling us about the episode for entertainment or historical purposes only.

Isaac, the blind patriarch, has decided to pass on the blessings of eternity and prosperity to the next generation. For some reason, he had decided to bless the wicked Esau instead of the righteous Yaakov. Inspired by his mother Rivka, Yaakov dons the garb of Esau and enters his saintly father's presence to obtain the prized blessing. Intentionally deceiving his father, Yaakov succeeds and is blessed with the coveted prize: 'And may the Lord give you of the dew of the heavens and [of] the fatness of the earth and an abundance of corn and wine. Nations shall serve you and kingdoms shall bow down to you; you shall be a master over your brothers, and your mother's sons shall bow down to you. Those who curse you shall be cursed, and those who bless you shall be blessed!”

How did he do it? How did he overcome this seemingly insurmountable hurdle?

The Torah makes sure to tell us that the saintly Isaac was well aware that 'the voice was the voice of Yaakov and the hands were the hands of Esau.' A deeper reading into the passage reveals to us that Isaac was well aware of the deception at hand as Esau would never utter the words that Jacob spoke. He seemed quite pleased with it when, upon Esau's discovering the plot, he affirms the blessing to Jacob once more!

The message is profound: Isaac was training Jacob how to deal with the haters - with those who can't stand the very existence of the Jew. Jacob cannot sit idle in his tent studying Torah in order to protect himself. To survive, Jacob will need to learn the tools of Esau.

He will need to don the military uniform of Esau: learn to fly F-16 fighter jets, sophisticated drone technology and special reconnaissance forces amongst many other talents.
He will need to don three piece business suits of Esau the diplomat as Jacob struggles to engage his foes in diplomatic combat at the EU, US Congress and ICC.

But that is not enough, it's only half the secret to success.

Whilst the hands are the hands of Esau, the voice is the voice of Jacob: Bibi, the IDF and AIPAC are not enough to overcome the antisemites. It's only when the Jew remembers that he is a Jew, when he stands tall and defiant, connected to the G-d of his fathers, that he, like our patriarch Jacob in Esau's garb, succeeds to overcome the haters.

Dear «First Name or Friend» , I know you care deeply for Israel and for the Jewish People. I know you will do anything to protect them from harm. As the terror creeps ever closer to our borders, from the Paris supermarket, to the Milan restaurant and already last week in Crown Heights NY, I urge you to reconsider your strategy. Keep up the amazing work in supporting the military and diplomatic fight for Israel, but if we neglect to keep up the spiritual fight for Israel, if we neglect to actually live as Jews by through actual Torah Study and Mitzvah Performance, we are merely an empty shell: the hands of Esau without the voice of Jacob.

Like our forefather Jacob, the time is now and the spotlight is on you! Let us not shirk this responsibility by thinking that our actions don't matter and that someone else will take a stand instead of us. The time is now and if not us, then whom?

Let's make this Shabbos count, like never before. Chana and I are here to guide you in nurturing your voice of Jacob in ways you never dreamed possible. Just give us a call!