Parashas Vayishlach

This week's parashah recounts how the angel who is Master of Eisav engaged Yaakov in a combat. Although he was unable to overcome Yaakov, he succeeded in injuring Yaakov's thigh at the gid hanasheh, "and therefore the Children of Israel do not eat of the gid hanasheh..."

 

Following their battle, Yaakov insists that the angel bless him. In response, the Angel changes him name from Yaakov to Yisrael, "for you have fought with angels and with men, and you have succeeded."

 

Perhaps we can understand the symbolism and import of this very esoteric episode in the following light:

 

Yaakov/Yisrael was now entering a new phase in his life -- and in the life of the nation that would bear his name.

 

Although he had been living with challenges and in galus for many years, he had been dealing with them, as his name implied, though v'yaakveini, circling around and avoiding or outsmarting his nemesis. He extracted the bechorah from Eisav, he left home when he was later threatened by him, he stayed out in the fields when he worked for Lavan.

 

Now, however, he would be directly engaging with Eisav, sending him gifts, bowing to him, hugging ang kissing him. His children would be going into Shechem -- and leaving booty that included idols and more. Yosef would live in the home of Potiphar and then in the Egyptian palace. And, in the thousands of years since then, living in cultures throughout the world.

 

The blessing of the angel was that when he faces these new challenges, he should emerge victorious. When Avrom's name was changed to Avrohom, he could no longer be called Avrom because his mission, his essence, had fundamentally changed. Yaakov/Yisrael, however, retained both names, because both approaches -- avoiding confrontation and engagement -- were required, depending on the circumstances.

 

The interactions of Yisrael were and are perilous and fraught with dangers both physical and spiritual. But, as the Chinuch explains, the "reasoning" behind the prohibition of gid hanasheh is to encourage the Jew. Although we may be buffeted by the tribulations of exile, we will -- like Yaakov -- emerge victorious.

 

May we merit to soon see that victory.

 

Gut Shabbos.