In this Issue...
Resentment, abandonment, jealously, animosity, these are all emotions and conditions of the mind that can stem from sibling rivalry. Sometimes they are created by birth order, attention from parents, misunderstanding, personality and unfortunately lies by those outside the family meant to divide.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the more notorious and/or long-lasting feuds in history and their results. There is Cain and Abel – the first murder; Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine – decades of not speaking over their mother’s attention and an Academy award; the Dassler brothers – two major shoe companies (Adidas and Puma) created out of rivalry from miscommunication in a bomb shelter in WW2.
Feuds and unforgiveness can create venom that poisons once close relationships. While rivalry is often the fodder that receives top headlines, reconciliation is something often overshadowed. Yet when reconciliation is made it can have a tremendous impact on those directly involved and those captivated by the feud.
In the region often called the “Holy Land” there have been two historical rivalries that appeared to actually have been repaired for a moment but unfortunately their descendants have continued it to this day. According to the oldest written record of Abraham from 3,500 years ago, he had two sons that were said to be blessed. The children of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the firstborn and the son of the promise respectively, both raised by their father, circumcised according to the covenant their father made with God.
According to that same 3 millennia old record jealously took root in Ishmael’s heart and was noticed by Isaac’s mother resulting in the banishing of Ishmael and his mother. So the two brothers went on separate paths, both promised to be blessed by the true God of Abraham, from one would stem 12 princes and from the other 12 tribes. While according to the same record the brothers did come together to bury their father, the feud of jealousy and resentment has continued into a vicious battle that has cost countless lives throughout history and is still in the headlines today.
The feud then continued to Isaac’s sons one of whom that married into the line of Ishmael. Jacob and Esau, like Isaac and Ishmael severed their relationship over a birthright. But history says they reconciled after some time, forgave and embraced each other and jointly buried their father.
Perhaps as Ishmael and Isaac put aside differences to bury Abraham and Jacob and Esau did so to bury Isaac, they should meet again with the common point at the graves of the many who have died as a result of this rivalry, and realize they both received blessings as a result of Abraham and set aside differences for good.
In light of the war in Gaza this special issue will feature four unique organizations focused on bringing harmony to Israel today: the Hagar Association, Hand in Hand, House of Harrari and Emmaus Group.
DAVIDS STAR MAGAZINE