Vayishlach וישלח

In Vayishlach we see a fight between two men from night until daybreak— one is Yaakov and the other has no identity. No matter how hard he battles, Yaakov simply cannot get rid of that man.  Yaakov represents all those who never give up no matter how hard the battle.  Our sages have three opinions about this; one that it is a dream, two that it is a prophetic vision and three, that it really happened as written.  Two Jews—three opinions.  The important thing is what we can learn from this important story?  We need to see it in the context in which it was written. Yaakov was at the end of his rope; he was filled with fear knowing that there was no way he could conquer his brother Esau who he knew was stronger that he was; he felt defeated and above all guilty for what he had done to Esau 20 years earlier.  He had fled from Esau not because Esau himself had threatened him but because Rivkah told him that Esau would kill him.  His father had favored Esau and he knew that he had tricked him into giving him the blessing so he never felt it was really his.  The wrestling with G-d had to do with all these things. He would not leave until he had G-d’s blessing because his father’s blessing was not really meant for him. He needed to be able to go on. Yaakov’s life had been a difficult one. His family relationships were not the best and especially the last 20 years when he was exploited to the point of abuse by his uncle/father-in-law, Lavan. He loved and was promised Rachel for whom he worked for 7 years but was given Leah instead and then he had to work another 7 years for his beloved Rachel.  Lavan cheated him right up to the end when he finally had to flee with his family.  At first glance, it doesn’t look like Yaakov had too many virtues and that he made a lot of mistakes. He certainly was not the epitome of faith.  Several times he promised to tithe and to follow G-d if G-d would take care of him. This is the beauty of Torah. It does not exalt the fathers of Israel; on the contrary it shows them to be so human, just like you and I. G-d is not asking us to be perfect; He is asking us to be available. We need to give G-d the Glory not to keep it for ourselves.

In this story we see Yaakov at his lowest. There was nowhere for him to run although he wanted to. At that moment, he tried to send his brother Esau gifts, cattle, servants etc all to try to appease him and then he humbled himself calling his brother lord “adoni” twice. The only response he received from his servant was that his brother was coming with 400 men.  Poor Yaakov! He divided his camp into two, crossed the Jordan and there prepared himself for the fight of his life. He found himself truly “alone”!

Here is what we need to look at. What had Yaakov done to his brother? Supposedly he tricked his brother into giving up his birth-right, the inheritance of the first born. He felt that Esau was justified in killing him; he would have done the same. We already know that Esau didn’t care about it. He was willing to give it up for a bowl of red lentil soup. We also know that Esau was very wealthy in his own right.  Yaakov was the one who truly cared about the birthright out of a sense of responsibility not greed. G-d had put this into Yaakov and Rivkah knew this from the prophecy that she had received from G-d. G-d chose Yaakov to be someone special as He does with each of us whom He has chosen.

Why is this fight so important? Yaakov was having a panic attack and what should you do with someone who is going through this. You need to shake them out of it. He needed to be shaken out this illusion of self-destruction and given hope and a new self-esteem based in reality so that he could be freed from his fears and enemies.

We spend our lives running away from our fears and not facing them. When we do that we destroy ourselves in the end.  We need to confront our fears face to face.  We read this several times in Scripture that someone saw G-d face to face and didn’t die. This is the actual meaning of it. G-d was with us when we faced our fears face to face.

From now on Yaakov would be called Israel ישראל meaning “to contend or struggle with G-d”. Yaakov had to die as Yaakov that day before he could become Israel. Later on we read that Yaakov was buried at Machpelah but Israel lived on. Names in Hebrew are important bringing with them more than a meaning, but a picture of what would be; for e.g. Hoshea’s name was changed to Yehoshua (Joshua) meaning “G-d will save you”. In the case of Yaakov, his name change to Israel was not a blessing for it meant struggle.  Israel would struggle for existence from the moment of her conception as a nation until the Messiah will come to set us free from the battle.  Our lives as those who are chosen by G-d were never meant to be easy. Being a part of Israel means that we will struggle every day. However we have a clear understanding that when G-d chooses us, He has a reason and He will help us to get through the battle. All we need to say is “Hineni”—here I am, send me. I am ready and available.

Yaakov sent his Malachim ahead of him to meet Esau. Some of our sages say that these were angels, others that they are messengers.  We are G-d’s Malachim, His shelachim; His sent ones and sometimes we need a wake-up call. It’s time to stop thinking that you are good for nothing. . If G-d has called you, He will equip you for the task at hand and no matter how small it is part of a bigger picture.  He knows everything that you are going through and there is a reason for it. If you are struggling like Yaakov, be glad because it means that you are G-d’s chosen vessel to do His will at this time.

May G-d add blessing to His Word.
Ranebi (Rabbi Netanel ben Yochanan)