Rabbi Howard Morrison

This Shabbat, we conclude the book of Bereishit-Genesis. The entire book takes us on a journey of brothers' relationships. 

Cain murders Abel.

Isaac is separated from Ishmael, but they reunite to bury their father.

Jacob flees from his brother Esau, but they reunite and embrace later on.

Joseph has an estranged relationship with his brothers, but they reunite and make peace with each other.

Ephraim and Menashe are born in Egypt. While they are grandsons to Jacob, they are seen as sons by him as well.

The individuality of each narrative as well as a collective analysis show us the complexity of these stories of brothers.

This past week, I saw the movie, "The Iron Claw." Some of you know that I enjoy watching and attending professional wrestling, now referred to in many circles as sports entertainment. Sure, the results and the moves in a match are scripted. However, there is true athleticism, fine acting, special effects, and more.

When I was a child in the 1970's and a young man in the early 1980's, pro-wrestling did not show the kind of glitz it does now. The action was largely in the ring. Often, there was real hurt and pain in order to glorify the illusion of it being a competitive match. At times, injuries and hospitalizations took place.

In the 1980's and before, North American wrestling was divided into many territories. One of them, a branch of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was called World Class Championship Wrestling, based in Dallas Texas. The most famous and popular wrestlers at the time were the Von Erich brothers: Kevin, Kerry, Mike, David, and Chris (not shown in the movie). They were loving brothers who excelled in their craft. Tragically, in real life and depicted in the movie, each brother except for Kevin dies horrific deaths in the prime of life. Also, the oldest brother, Jack, died as a young child before any of the other brothers entered the scene. Kevin is currently married with children and grandchildren.

As in the Torah's tales, the relationships between siblings are influenced by many things: the impact of parents, personal mental and emotional issues, sociology, and more. The same can be said about the Von Erich brothers and most other familial situations.

The Iron Claw is more than a wrestling movie. It is a timely modern Midrash on the stories found in the book of Bereishit-Genesis.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Howard Morrison