In the final moments of the epic musical Les Miserables, based on the French classic by Victor Hugo, the characters Fantine, Eponine, and Jean Valjean sing in harmony:
Take my hand and lead me to salvation
Take my love, for love is everlasting
And remember the truth that once was spoken:
To love another person is to see the face of God.
To me, this show is timeless and the score nearly flawless, and I have always loved this moving refrain at the end. As originally composed as the score may be and as innovative as Hugo’s novel was at the time of its publication, the words of this ending refrain are in fact generously lent from this week’s Torah portion Vayishlach, when Jacob is reunited with his brother Esau:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב אַל־נָא֙ אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִנְחָתִ֖י מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֣י עַל־כֵּ֞ן רָאִ֣יתִי פָנֶ֗יךָ כִּרְאֹ֛ת פְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַתִּרְצֵֽנִי׃
Jacob said, “No, I pray you; if you would do me this favor, accept from me this gift, for to see your face is like seeing the face of God, and you have received me favorably.”
(Genesis 33:10).
After two decades apart and much pain having passed between the two brothers, Jacob’s words here are incredibly powerful. All the feelings of fear, pain, regret, and loss might still exist between the two brothers, and yet, Jacob is able to name the divine connection that nevertheless exists between them, and Esau simply and generously responds, “Let us start on our journey” (Genesis 33:12). May we, we like Jacob and Esau, always recognize the Divine presence as it exists in all of our sacred relationships.
I hope you’ll enjoy the stunning adaptation of these words in the Les Miserables finale.
— Cantor Emma Lutz