Hi,

We can’t seem to avoid it.

The Torah keeps coming back to weddings!

Now its time for Jacob to find a wife. (Genesis, 28:1-4)

… Isaac gives Jacob a charge.

“Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women.”

Or in other words, “Don’t marry out.”

And Isaac sends Jacob to look in his mother’s family.

The family that produced a great woman like Rebecca!

… But it’s interesting to see how Isaac presents it to Jacob.

“Isaac called Jacob and blessed him.”

Then he said to him, “Don’t take a wife from the Canaanite women.”  (28, 1)

Isaac didn’t just say to Jacob, “Don’t you dare marry out! …”

First he blessed him. 

… It’s a very important message.  And a very relevant one.

There’s a lot of concern today about “Jewish continuity.”

About our children marrying Jews.  And building Jewish homes.

And we need to convey how important it is to us.

But that’s not enough.

First we have to bless them!

They need to feel that being Jewish is a blessing.

We need to show them to joy of Jewish living.

Things like a Shabbat meal.  The holidays.

Especially ones like Purim.

When we celebrate being Jewish.

We need to make them knowledgeable Jews.  Proud Jews!

And then?

They will want to be part of the Jewish future!

… I always think about this.

Almost every Jewish child will visit the Holocaust Museum.

And they need to know about Jewish suffering.

But it’s really sad if that’s their primary Jewish experience.

And we don’t show them the joy of being Jewish.

…It’s their birthright.

We owe it to them!

 All the best,