<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rashi says that trying to impress and deceive his father Isaac, Esau would ask his father: &ldquo;How does one tithe the salt and the straw?&rdquo; Yet this seems strange. For this question implies not extra piety, but absolute ignorance! For it is a clear law that these items are exempt of all tithing obligations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The class goes on to explore this Rashi on two levels&mdash;the literal and the mystical. In the first we discover the intelligence and depth of Eisav&rsquo;s question, considering the unique properties of salt and straw. Then we go on to explain this question from a deeper perspective, analyzing the majesty and tragedy of Eisav, whose struggles were unique and who attracted the deep love and empathy of his father. The prophet says that G-d loathes Eisav. But the Kabbalists show us how easy it is to miss the real message of the verse.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">The class aims at liberating us from the erroneous notion that struggling with evil is evil. It is the other way around: Our struggle with evil is where our unique spiritual potential and greatness lay.&nbsp;</span></p>

The Struggle Against Evil is Not Evil

The Majesty and Tragedy of Eisav

<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This class, presented to woman, was given&nbsp;<span class="aBn" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #cccccc; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0" data-term="goog_629772967"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Tuesday</span></span>&nbsp;Parshas Vayishlach, 12 Kislev 5777; December 13, 2016, at Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY.</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The class explores the fateful encounter between Yaakov and his adversary, and how that explains why Eisav could make peace with his long estranged brother. As it turns out, if I do not learn how to wrestle with myself I need to wrestle with everyone else.</div>

I Can Only See My Brother's Face When I See My Own

When I Embrace Myself for Real, I Can Embrace You for Real

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