Fine & Dandy - CHRONICLE Online/The WORD 12/04/25

Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah

December 4, 2025

14 Kislev 5786

Parashat Vayishlach

The great comedian George Carlin used to do a bit about asking a man, “How are ya?” and the man replied, “Fine and dandy.” Carlin talked about the fact that he was often fine, but not dandy at the same time. Or, he was sometimes dandy, but not fine. He could only remember one time in his life that he was both fine and dandy (it was in August 1978—in case you were wondering!).

In this week’s Torah portion, though, we find out that our patriarch Jacob was both fine and dandy at the same time. In fact, he might have even been swell too.

As he made his way back to the Land of Israel after 20 years, the Torah tells us that he arrived in the city of Shechem and was “שלם—shalem.” The JPS Bible translates that word as “safe.” The Schocken Bible translates it as “in peace.” It sounds a lot like fine and dandy to me. Typically, the word “שלם – shalem” is translated as “whole” or “complete.”

Rashi—the great medieval commentator—was struck by this description of Jacob. He explained that it tells us three things about Jacob.

(1) Jacob was “Shalem b’gufo" —his body was whole; he had healed from his wrestling match with the angel. He had regained his physical strength.

(2) Jacob was “Shalem b’mamono"—he was financially full; he had acquired much wealth as a result of his dealings with his father-in-law Lavan. His family would lack for nothing.

(3) Jacob was “Shalem b’Torato”—his education was complete; he had retained the many lessons that he had learned since he had gone out on his own 20 years earlier. 

Pretty remarkable! That is far beyond “fine and dandy.” That is what we all wish for ourselves and the people we love. As Benjamin Franklin put down on paper in “Poor Richard’s Almanac” in 1739, Jacob was “healthy, wealthy and wise.” One wonders if Benjamin Franklin knew about Rashi’s commentary!

In any event, this is the time of year when many of us send greeting cards and holiday wishes to the people in our lives. My wish for people is that they will be like Jacob—complete in body, funds and learning. But, if that’s not possible, I hope that at the very least that they will be fine and dandy.

Shalom, 

RAF.