Bill Moritz was studying with his new partner when I got to Hillel
this morning at 7:25. Patricia drove me, so I got there early. A book caught my
attention. It is part of a collection, Maoz?, a commentary on the bible, ten
maybe fifteen volumes? It was on the bookshelf next to where I sat down. I
looked through three volumes until I found this week’s portion: Vaishlach. “And
Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the
field of Edom.“ Just on this one sentence there are three pages written. I do
not know how many pages on the whole portion. The commentary was written in the
late 1700, maybe early 1800. Esau and his descendants represent the gentiles. The text thus teaches how to
deal with non-Jews. It says: with respect. Not with violence because they are
weak, but with diplomacy. Bring them gifts. Jacob after all had himself introduced
to Esau as “thy servant Jacob.“
This morning I woke up thinking about how I cheated myself out
of a bigger salary by not complaining and asking what I actually deserved. I
did not do it because at the time I felt that my job was in extreme danger. Was
it? Who knows? My boss and the whole division were dismantled. But I am a Penn
graduate. And had a good relationship with the Dean of Engineering. That would have
helped me stay afloat. Angry with myself, angry I am.
