וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃
So Jacob named the place Peniel, meaning, “I have seen a divine being face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”
Context: This verse comes just after Jacob has wrestled with a mysterious man/angel/divine being/God. He is given the name, Yisrael (Israel), meaning to struggle with God/divine being.
1. How do you understand the meaning of Jacob seeing this being "face to face?"
2. We have so many ways to communicate with and see people today with phones, social media, etc. What place do face to face encounters have in our lives? Are they important? What difference does it make if the encounter is face to face or not?
3. As madrichim, what are some ways you can see the students and others "face to face"? What might this look like at Kahal Kodesh?
Closing Note: The being Jacob wrestled with is called an ish, a man. And yet, Jacob faces this man and sees the divine, the holy in him. We, too, have the opportunity to see and honor the sacred spark within each of our students, teachers, madrichim, and community members.
1. How do you understand the meaning of Jacob seeing this being "face to face?"
2. We have so many ways to communicate with and see people today with phones, social media, etc. What place do face to face encounters have in our lives? Are they important? What difference does it make if the encounter is face to face or not?
3. As madrichim, what are some ways you can see the students and others "face to face"? What might this look like at Kahal Kodesh?
Closing Note: The being Jacob wrestled with is called an ish, a man. And yet, Jacob faces this man and sees the divine, the holy in him. We, too, have the opportunity to see and honor the sacred spark within each of our students, teachers, madrichim, and community members.