Chaos rages like the perfect storm<\/p>\n
Without the perfection; everything<\/p>\n
Helter-skelter, rattling to-and-fro \u2013<\/p>\n
Off kilter and on edge.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Such is life in the beginning:<\/p>\n
The mash in ferocious fermentation<\/p>\n
Before the wine can be known or nosed;<\/p>\n
The soil tilled before the seed can be instilled;<\/p>\n
The seed in rancid rot before the tree can bloom;<\/p>\n
The olive\u2019s heart crushed before the oil can flow<\/p>\n
Smooth<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is the burning flame of desire, the heated passion<\/p>\n
Of heart, the fiery disposition of purpose which smelts<\/p>\n
The iron will and steel nerves that make up any true<\/p>\n
Accomplishment<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Without the power of the storm, the calm would merely be,<\/p>\n
Well, calm, sans the peacefulness and excitement true calm<\/p>\n
Should bring \u2013 there is a fine line between calmness and<\/p>\n
Boredom:<\/p>\n
The reason for the calm, the drive behind it all,<\/p>\n
Is that fine, very fine, line<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Yaakov settled in the land<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It seems to be all about settling<\/p>\n
\u2013 Yaakov settled<\/i> in the land \u2013<\/p>\n
About calm, peace, relaxation<\/p>\n
Harmony, quiet and comfort<\/p>\n
However, the chaos has just begun,<\/p>\n
With techno-colored coats, sublime<\/p>\n
Dreams, family feuds, nomads and<\/p>\n
Slaves, strange relationships, butlers,<\/p>\n
Bakers and more<\/p>\n
Dreams\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is the beginning of the descent to<\/p>\n
Egypt, the beginning of the first (and<\/p>\n
The root of all) exile, and yet it is<\/p>\n
Called \u201csettled\u201d \u2013 how can this week<\/p>\n
Be settling when there is so much pain,<\/p>\n
Hurt and suffering, so much darkness all<\/p>\n
Around?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Of his father’s sojourning
\n<\/i><\/p>\n
In the land of Canaan<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Yaakov didn\u2019t just settle; Yaakov settled<\/p>\n
In the land where his father had lived, in<\/p>\n
The land given to him and his offspring by<\/p>\n
The Creator of all land and, for that matter,<\/p>\n
All offspring. Yaakov was connected to the<\/p>\n
Soul: he wasn\u2019t na\u00efve, he knew of the darkness<\/p>\n
To come\u2026And precisely because of that he<\/p>\n
Settled \u2013<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He knew the bitter cold and hot tears his children<\/p>\n
Would have to go through, he knew all the nights<\/p>\n
They would have to shudder and freeze, but he also<\/p>\n
Knew that no challenge, no evil, could ever diminish<\/p>\n
The light and warmth shining within them all, he knew<\/p>\n
That they would come out stronger from any hell and<\/p>\n
Bring heaven into everything they touch and anyone<\/p>\n
They come across; so the settlement and the peace of<\/p>\n
Yaakov was not only a reality then but also gives strength<\/p>\n
For any chaos, storm, tempest or whatever for all eternity,<\/p>\n
The knowledge that any exile will only enhance our redemption.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Today, in our present state, we have gone<\/p>\n
Through more chaos than a people ever should.<\/p>\n
It is time to settle, to rise up and settle down, settle<\/p>\n
Not in resignation but in triumph, settle not as an end<\/p>\n
(Or a means) but as a beginning; settle in the land of our fathers;<\/p>\n
Settle in the Land of Israel.<\/p>\n