Sermon for Parashat Vayishlach at a "Mispacha Shabbat," a service designed to be engaging to all members of the family, young and old.
Let me tell you a story. It’s a story about my great-great-great grandmother and my great-great-great grandfather, and their son, my great-great grandfather. My great-great-great grandfather, Shlomo, was a farmer. And his wife, my great-great-great grandmother Rayzel, ran the family store and managed all of the finances.
One day, Rayzel to Shlomo: “We’re going to have a baby!” They were so excited! They moved the goats outside so there could be space for a crib, they made sure to put their various sharp, pointy farming equipment in carefully locked cabinets. They pulled out boxes of their favorite toys from when they were children.
Rayzel went to the shtetl’s Lamaze class. And Shlomo, he just did a lot of pacing.
