Rabbi's Message

As we move from the warmth of Thanksgiving last week into this Shabbat, we encounter a Torah portion that feels uncannily aligned with the week we just lived. Vayishlah tells the story of Jacob returning home after decades of distance, uncertainty, and complicated family relationships. Many of us have just returned home as well—from gatherings filled with loved ones, food, memories, and, perhaps, the full spectrum of family dynamics.

 Jacob’s journey home is not simple. He prepares carefully, sending messengers ahead, offering gifts, praying for strength. He divides his family into camps, unsure of how he will be received. And on the night before the reunion, he wrestles—physically, spiritually, emotionally—emerging transformed, blessed with a new name and a new sense of self.

Thanksgiving can feel much the same. We gather at tables filled with blessings. We sit with people who shaped us, inspired us, and sometimes, challenged us. These encounters evoke a deep sense of gratitude, but also remind us of the vulnerability required to show up honestly in our families and relationships.

What is most moving in Vayishlah is the moment Jacob finally sees Esau—and instead of the anger he feared, Esau embraces him. Esau runs to him, hugs him, and weeps. The Torah reminds us that reconciliation and grace are possible, often in ways we do not expect. The world—and the people in our lives—may be more forgiving, more open to healing, than we imagine.

As we enter Shabbat, the question becomes: How do we carry the spirit of Thanksgiving forward? How do we turn gratitude into courage—the courage to apologize when needed, to reach out, or to soften our assumptions about people we think we already understand?

This week’s parasha invites us to take one step, like Jacob, toward wholeness. To let the blessings of the holiday linger a little longer. To celebrate all that we are grateful for. And to trust that, with honesty and humility, we too might find an unexpected embrace waiting on the other side.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat of gratitude, courage, and peaceful homecomings.

 Shabbat Shalom.