Men's Club

A message from Men's Club President.....Martin Solway

Upcoming Events

Men’s Club and Women’s League Kristallnacht program was well attended and successful. At such time we have new planned events, we will inform the congregation.

THE ORIGINAL DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

The 1965 epic romantic film Doctor Zhivago was based on the book by Boris Pasternak. The film starred Omar Sharif as Doctor Zhivago, Julie Christie as Lara Antipov, and Geraldine Chaplin as Tonya Gromeko. Yuri Zhivago was raised by the Gromekos who were family friends. He became a doctor and married the Gromekos daughter Tonya. They had a son named Sasha. The film was set against the backdrop of World War 1, the Russian revolution of 1917, and the Russian civil war. Yuri was conscripted by the Russian Imperial Army. He met Lara at a field hospital, and she became his nurse. There they fell in love, though Yuri remained faithful to Tonya. Yuri’s life was interrupted multiple times by war and political turmoil. Turning to biblical times, we find a mirror image saga, reflected in the form of our patriarch Jacob and his relationship with our matriarchs Leah and Rachel.

Jacob had multiple disruptions in his life. He had to flee the wrath and threat to his life from his brother Esau. His wages were changed ten times by Laban. He had to suffer the bitterness of extreme weather conditions tending the flocks. He had to endure the deception by Laban giving him Leah as the first wife, instead of the promised Rachel.

Two themes have to be explored. First does a person have the capability to experience a limitless number of loves. Rachel and Lara captured the hearts of Jacob and Yuri. They represented a blissful world and a repose from the stresses of life. Fortunately Jacob and Yuri never shirked their responsibilities to Leah and Tonya and their children. We do know there are many forms of love. Love of family, love of country, love of pets, and love of nature, just to name a few. The answer to limitless love is yes, there is plenty of room in our hearts.

The second theme is the recognition of the bravery, courage, and determination of Leah to pursue the goal of achieving equal status to Rachel, in seeking the affection of their husband Jacob. Leah had four children, yet Rachel was barren. If we examine the sourcing of the names of the children, we can sense an emotional appeal by Leah to gain the fondness of Jacob. Leah never missed an opportunity to accomplish her goal. Reuben her son, came from the field with mandrakes. Rachel approached Leah to get some mandrakes. Leah cleverly leveraged the situation, asking that Jacob come to her, in exchange for the mandrakes. Rachel acquiesced, and Leah had two more sons. She left off having any more sons. The assumption being, she reached the top of the mountain, and procured the love of her husband.

A life lesson for all of us. Have the strength, courage and determination to pursue our dreams and goals.

Shalom!!!