Feelings and Torah! We love this combination at Makom Community. Last week’s learning was full of both. Here are some of the things we discovered while exploring the scene of Yaakov and Eisav’s long-awaited reunification.
Yaakov and Eisav reunite in an overwhelming moment. Yaakov, still consumed by guilt over stealing Eisav’s birthright and blessing, as well as fear of Eisav’s anger, approaches Eisav with caution and deference, bowing low to the ground seven times. Eisav, however, seems to be coming to their meeting with a completely different mindset. He runs to Yaakov, embraces him, and cries. Eisav tries to refuse Yaakov’s gifts, but Yaakov insists saying, “to see your face is like seeing the face of God” (Genesis 33:10).
To see your face is like seeing the face of God. Oof. What a thing to say to someone! How would you feel if someone told you that seeing your face was like seeing the face of God? The Garinim (preK and K kiddos) said:
- I would feel embarrassed, especially if there were other people around.
- I wouldn’t trust them. Maybe they were just lying.
- Happy. I think it would be a nice thing.
- Confused. You can’t see God in another person’s face. God isn’t a real thing like that.
But what even does that mean? We unpacked this phrase from an unusual perspective. Rather than imagining God as a being, we wondered what God would be like as an action. How does God happen in our world? The Garinim attempted to draw some scenes of God happening. They imagined specifically in the case of a conflict how might God happen or show up?
- A cloud for a head, air for arms, a furry tail like a dog. And there’s one even bigger than that, and another that’s smaller. They’re just standing around smiling. That’s what I think God looks like.
- My brother helped me draw the Makom Community sign. I chose to draw it because I love Makom.
- There’s a cloud shaped like a rocket over a mountain range and two people throwing rocks at each other. But up to the side is God with pictures on it showing what helps God make humans (by drawing them). God is happening by helping the people who are throwing rocks. When God grows a new tree there will be peace for a little while.
The Shorashim (1st and 2nd graders) and Nitzanim (3rd and 4th graders) analyzed this idea as well. What is a moment you noticed God happen?
- When you see something that never happens, like winning in player-vs-player mode.
- Two people falling in love without knowing each other.
- Getting a present you really want.
- Spending time with my brother.
- When Biden beat Trump, I ran around to all the houses on my street and started cheering.
- I think God can be an emotion.
- I think God happening is like when good things happen.
What do you think Yaakov meant by what he said? Was he really seeing God’s face? What could it mean to see someone’s face like seeing the face of God?
- For Yaakov, seeing Eisav’s face was like God giving him a gift.
- It was like the experience of praying to God.
- Seeing Eisav’s face was like a demonstration of Yaakov’s belief in God.
- You’re extremely happy, you can be extremely amazed.
- Seeing something that rarely happens.
- It’s saying that you can compare someone to God. God is the reason we all exist and you are like God.
- It’s so good to see you and so amazing.
How would someone have to act in order for you to see God in their face?
- They’d have to be really really really nice.
- Give me expensive presents, especially if they’re a stranger.
- Be respectful of my wishes. When I say “stop” they would stop.
- They would have to be 99% kind because everybody makes mistakes and is unkind sometimes.
The Shorashim brainstormed a bunch of attributes a person would need in order for them to see God in their face. Then they drew portraits of faces showing those qualities.
- The person is nice.
- The person is caring.
- They would have powers.
- They would always have a smile.
- They always help people.
- They try to fight for the world.
- They help the poor.
- They give donations and food for people who can’t afford it.
- I drew a person picking up trash and putting in the trash can.
- I drew a picture of Isabella with powers. Powers to help people get what they need and also lightning strike powers. Like if you need to lightning strike a kidnapper or in a war.
Our youngest kiddos certainly had an array of mixed feelings about someone seeing the face of God in their own faces. It seemed like a big and complicated compliment to process, difficult to believe in its scope and intensity. But the list of attributes we eventually came up with that would help us see God in each others’ faces is, for the most part, reassuringly benign. Helpful, caring, generous, respectful – these are all eminently within our grasp. Like Yaakov discovered he could find God in the face of his long lost twin Eisav, I would like to encourage all of us to find the godliness in each other and ourselves.