By RABBI DAVID GERBER

 

Jewish literature and sacred writings consistently teach us the values of brotherhood. How great it is when our siblings come together. But the Torah is full of examples of how awful brothers can actually be too each other.

 

We recently read the story of Cain and Abel. This week we read about Jacob and Esau. The brothers in our Torah kill each other, lie, and steal birthrights.

 

The contrast between how sacred a sibling can be and how damaging one can be is stark. It reminds us that we can be each other’s greatest blessing our most deadly curse. In either case, we are all still brothers.