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Keeping In Touch - Volume 2
Torah Thoughts Inspired By The Works Of The Lubavitcher Rebbe,
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson


Vayishlach

Written by Eliyahu Touger

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This week's Torah reading relates that after leaving Lavan's household where he had lived for twenty years, Jacob set out for Eretz Yisrael. Upon hearing that his brother Esau was preparing to attack him, he relocated his family to protect them against Esau's advance. That night, Jacob remained alone in his camp. He was met by an attacker and "wrestled with him until the morning." Our Rabbis explain that the attacker was not a mere mortal, but rather the personification of Esau's archangel. Jacob was able to withstand his challenge. Although the angel dislocated Jacob's hip, Jacob held his own until, at day break, the angel conceded defeat and blessed Jacob.

In commemoration of this encounter, the Jewish people do not eat the sciatic and the peroneal nerves or the tendons on an animal's hip socket (gid hanesheh; this is the reason that there is no kosher sirloin steak).

The Sefer HaChinuch explains the reason for this prohibition, explaining that it alludes to the future of the Jewish people. Although they will endure many difficulties in exile ("night") from the gentiles and from Esau's descendants, Jacob's victory teaches them to remain confident and secure that they will not perish and that their descendants will endure forever.

Our Rabbis ask: Why is this concept, an idea of sweeping relevance, commemorated by a prohibition that focuses on only one element of the encounter? Moreover, why does the commemoration seem to focus on an undesirable element, a wound that Jacob suffered?

In response, they explain that this motif - that one particular detail enables us to relate to a general principle of fundamental importance - lies at the core of the confidence and trust we must have that G-d's providence will protect us and guide us through the challenges of exile.

The intent is that every detail is important. Not only will the Jewish people as a whole be led through exile, but each individual will feel G-d's providence. G-d cherishes every individual Jew as a father cherishes an only son born to him in his old age. With patience and care, G-d charts not only the path of our people as a whole, but that of every individual, guiding and directing each of us to attain the greatest good that we could possibly reach and enabling us to make our special contribution to the consummation of G-d's desire in creation.

The manner in which G-d manifests His providence upon each individual is not meted out according to any scale of importance which logic could conceive. For because of G-d's desire and choice of the Jewish people, every person enjoys unique importance. Each one fulfills a dimension of G-d's master plan that another could not possibly fulfill. Therefore He lavishes on each person a unique measure of patience, care and love, enabling that individual to play his part in painting a picture that far surpasses any of his personal aspirations.

To emphasize these concepts, we commemorate Jacob's encounter by focusing on one detail. For this teaches that there are no mere particulars; everything plays its part in the whole. Moreover, the commemoration focuses on something that appears undesirable, teaching that what we call evil is sometimes the most efficient and perhaps the only means through which - for the person and his condition at the time - G-d can convey the ultimate good.

Looking to the Horizon

The Torah reading relates that, at their encounter, Jacob promised to visit Esau at his home in Seir. In fact, however, he never made that journey. Our Sages ask: Would Jacob, the embodiment of the attribute of truth, lie?

They explain that Jacob's words were future-oriented. When would he keep his promise? In the era of the Redemption, when "saviors will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau."

The intent is that the interaction between Jacob and Esau is of cosmic significance. For the ultimate of existence is not for the spiritual and the physical to remain as separate realms, but for the two to be intertwined and for spiritual awareness to encompass the worldly realm. So while Esau - material reality - is dominant, Jacob will not visit Seir. But ultimately, after the world will be refined and its spiritual content brought to the surface, he will also go to Seir. For every element of our existence must be brought into contact with essential G-dliness.


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