This is piece 1 of an essay I'm planning to write on the topic of Judaism and humanity.

I heard a dvar Torah last night at shul between mincha and maariv by a rav, perhaps a Rabbi Feiner. Young-ish rabbi with a trimmed beard. When I go to the white shul again, I'll ask someone so I have his name.

This week's parsha includes the story of the meeting between Yaakov and Yosef after 22 years of separation. It describes how Yosef hugged and kissed Yaakov, but strangely, does not describe Yaakov reciprocating. The Midrash says that the reason is that Yaakov was busy saying krias Sh'ma and could not interrupt.

This is very strange - if it was zman krias sh'ma, why wasn't Yosef also saying krias sh'ma? And if it wasn't the zman, why was Yaakov saying it? Couldn't he wait a few minutes?

The Maharal (which I should probably look up at some point while researching this essay) explains that indeed it was not the zman, but Yaakov wanted to channel the intense emotions of the reunion with his son towards a lofty goal, and there is no loftier goal than yichud Hashem.

He told the story of how, lehavdil, when a certain Giants player got a touchdown in the ___ Superbowl (two times ago when the Giants won the Superbowl), rather than doing a crazy dance or sumersaults or whatever it is they normally do, this player got down on one knee and prayed. Take that moment of high energy, and channel it toward something Higher.

More coming tomorrow....