שבת  פרשת וישלח

SHABBAT PARSHAT VAYISHLACH

Ivrit Department Chair

When this week's Parsha opens we are presented with the dramatic meeting between Yaakov and Eisav, after Yaakov's 20 years in Lavan's house in Charan.  The Parsha devotes less then 20 psukim to this meeting, but in the previous psukim much greater detail and emphasis is given to the preparations for the meeting.

 

When Yaakov ran away to Charan in fear of his brother, who was aiming to kill him, he was bereft and lonely. He returned to Canaan as the head of a great tribe and with much wealth. At the border his brother waited for him. Eisav, the fire of hatred and revenge undiminished in his heart, came prepared and ready for the meeting with his brother Yaakov. The pasuk says, "and Yaakov was afraid and very distressed."

 

The question is asked, where did Yaakov's faith and belief in G-d go? G-d promised Yaakov in his dream that He would guard him and return him to Canaan in peace. With great fear in his heart he prepared for military action and combined it with diplomatic gestures that are common in the Middle East, gifts and bribery. The Midrash explains that Yaakov prepared himself with three things, gifts, prayer and war. Chazal says that this preparation is supposed to guide and show an example to future generations. Nothing seems to have changed. Throughout our Jewish history, and in our generation, haven't we offered gifts to our enemies, even when there is a heavy price to pay?  There is no doubt that Parshat Vayishlach is teaching us that the biblical stories are not just stories in their own time, but there are always lessons for future generations to learn.

 

Yaakov sent messengers to Eisav and, according to Rashi, they were angels. In their hands there were gifts from Yaakov accompanied by soothing words.  The messengers delivered the message from Yaakov to Eisav,   "with Lavan I lived ."  Rashi says that the word garti as used in the pasuk, can be translated as ger, a stranger. Yaakov was telling his brother, don't think that I have returned as a great lord and master. The bracha that he got from their father, Yitzchak, "you will be a g'vir to your brother " had not yet been fulfilled. He continued,  "I am the same Yaakov who kept 613 Mitzvot " (according to Rashi).

 

The messengers returned to Yaakov with the report that Eisav was coming towards him with 400 men. Yaakov felt fear and sorrow that he might not merit the miracle of his brother Eisav greeting him with open arms and great joy. He saw that the gifts he sent with the messengers did not work, and he prepared himself with prayer and war. Yaakov taught us a lesson that this is how we should behave. He showed us that Tefilla is a critical part of the process and if that fails then you have to prepare for war.  In fact, when Zahal goes to war they always stop and say a prayer, even those soldiers who are not religious, before proceeding.

 

Yaakov's prayer is in the next pasuk, "katonti m'kol hachasidim." Yaakov davened to Hashem saying,  "I am undeserving of all the kindness from Hashem ."   Yaakov was so humble, yet great before G-d, and what a message he sent us. This is how we prepare to face our enemies. We should all merit miracles and redemptions every day and forever.

Chess!!  The Game of Kings

Baking a Cake with Mrs. Jessie Rothstein