The Limits of Shalom Bayit

November 29, 2024

In this week’s parashah, Esau trades his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. While Jacob technically didn’t do anything wrong, Rabbi Dalia Samansky asks, “Was it the kind thing to do?” Looking forward to a holiday season filled with family — and drama — she explains: “shalom bayit is the concept that there is value in creating and maintaining peace in the home. It means sometimes we should default to kindness, while other times, we need to stand our ground…”