Rabbi Craig Axler
This week’s Torah portion is Toldot: Genesis 25:19 to 28:9
This Shabbat, many are experiencing a greater level of relaxation as we have just marked the quintessential American holiday of Thanksgiving. While not a Jewish holiday, its values speak to our deeply held Jewish beliefs, and even strong connections to this week’s Torah portion, Toldot.
On gratitude, Pirkei Avot 4:1 teaches “Who is wealthy? The one who finds joy in what they have.” Despite the constant drumbeat of “Black Friday sales” that encourage unnecessary consumption, most will agree that the greatest joy comes through gathering around a table with friends and family, sharing a meal lovingly prepared and recognizing what we have.
Some years ago, I sat with a family before the funeral of a beloved matriarch. Her children told me: “Our mother didn’t have much, and she didn’t need much. Truly she was happy with what she had. And to be honest, while there are many members of the family who have a lot more — this one bought a new vacation house, that one a fancy car — mom was always really happy for them as well.” I was immediately reminded of Pirkei Avot.
Contentment is the key to happiness. Without the feeling of contentment, all the riches in the world will not bring true wealth.
Parshat Toldot finds Isaac confronting many of the same challenges that faced his own father: danger, conflict, hostility, and famine. When Abraham faced famine, he descended to Egypt to find sustenance. Isaac, however, is assured by God that in return for remaining in the land, God will “be with him and bless him.” In result, his crops and flocks increased beyond measure — and beyond the available resources. Conflict with neighboring Philistines causes him to move and reopen the “wells dug by his father Abraham.” Twice, he is chased away by those who claim: “The water is ours,” and twice he moves on and relocates. The claims of the Philistines come from a place of fear, mistrust and scarcity.
Isaac could have easily protested: “No, these are the wells that my father dug.” But his trust in God’s blessing and protection allows him to peacefully move on. The third move finds him in a place where the Philistines no longer quarrel with him about the water, and he remains in that place, naming it Rechovot, meaning “wide open spaces.”
Why did the Philistines not challenge Isaac when he moved that third time? Perhaps they got tired of pushing him further; maybe they saw that the resources were actually enough to serve their needs. Perhaps they recognized that he wasn’t going anywhere, and that in each place he settled, God seemed to bless him. Or it could be that they found a sense of contentment, of feeling satisfied with what was theirs. The conclusion of this incident records a treaty between the leadership of these people and Isaac, each blessing the other with peace.
Isaac was appreciative and aware of his own blessings and gave thanks for them. But he also took comfort and pleasure from knowing that others were cared for as well. In a similar way to the woman whose children praised her complete gratitude, Isaac knew this kind of contentment. Who is wealthy? Pirkei Avot teaches: the one who finds joy with their portion. Who moves beyond wealth? The one who gives thanks for what others have as well. Giving thanks without jealousy, without animosity, without envy. Giving thanks without worrying that the portion of others somehow takes away from our own. May we all aim for that kind of gratitude.
Rabbi Craig Axler is the senior rabbi of Temple Isaiah in Fulton, Maryland.
