By Sydney Switzer

This question of vulnerability is very prevalent on workshop. I'm constantly faced with situations in which I must decide whether its worth it to sacrifice my own self comfort over the wants of the group. Situations like whether I want to have personal money just in case kupa can't support me in a need, or whether I'm willing to asepha until 4:30 in the morning when I have shiur the next morning at 9. These aren't questions with clear cut answers, and for every person it's different. Jacob chose to put his safety over the safety of his maids. That's a personal decision, and we can't judge that, just as much as we can't judge somebody's desire to use personal money or go to bed early.

Vulnerability in itself is not a bad thing. Vulnerability is opening yourself up to challenges, to love, to experiences, to beauty, and to all sorts of wonderful and scary things. As humans, we have the opportunity to reject this vulnerability, or to accept it. In a way Jacob rejects this vulnerability. He accepts it insofar as he wants to repair his relationship with Esau, but his inability to stand at the front of the pack when Esau approaches shows his hesitation to completely opening himself up to risk.

When forming a kvutsah, it's important to be open. But it's also scary to be completely open, and to not have comforts such as personal money and a way to opt out of intense asephot. And I think it's up to the individual to decide how vulnerable they want to make themselves in the kvutsah.

<< Previous Page