Toldot: The Wicked Child
I recall studying this week’s Torah portion, Toldot, as a child. And I recall the most baffling verse. The Torah relates the sterling qualities of Jacob; and the outdoorsman qualities of Esau. Esau's character is further fleshed out in Midrash to include such lovely features as idol worship, murder and trickery. But yet the Torah relates: “And Isaac loved Esau.” (Genesis 25:28) Why would our saintly patriarch, Isaac, love this wayward child (seemingly more than Jacob – the perfect son).
This past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to join 6,000 colleagues at the yearly Shluchim Convention. There was a very popular session on AI, and how to use this tool in our work. The chairman of the conference shared a one line insight about how our work cannot be replaced by AI. And this insight can answer our question. “Our work is not in information, but transformation.”
We often look at life through the lens of information, achievement, and productivity. These are all very important. The more profound lens is that of transformation. What did this person overcome to get to this point? This is, of course, the fuel of every inspiring story. It’s not about what this person did; it’s about what he or she had to overcome to do what they did.
When Isaac looked at his errant son, sure he saw lots of issues, lots of problem, and many obstacles. But he saw deeper. All of these superficial impediments were the cover for a very deep spiritual potential.
When we look at another person, let us adjust our lens to the “potential transformation mode.” Then we will see an entirely different person before us. And even as we look at our own self, to realize that each obstacle and impediment in our life is only there for us to uncover the deeper, as of yet dormant, Divine light.