Torah Portion
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68
he became weary of sacrifice, dedica-
tion and delayed gratification.
But, on the other hand, Jacob was
capable of great moral growth and pro-
found spiritual achievement; for he had
visions of a God whose word he would
preserve and whose truths he would
transmit to his descendants.
n today's Torah reading, Jacob
There resides within every Jacob a lit-
leaves his Uncle Laban's house to
tle bit of Esau. Jacob knows that he is
meet his twin brother, Esau, who
going to meet his brother the following
had previously vowed to kill him.
day. He wrestles all night with the possi-
Along the way, "Jacob was left alone
bility of joining forces with Esau, of giv-
and a man wrestled with him until the
ing up the struggle of establishing a sep-
break of dawn. When he saw that he
arate identity and forming an indepen-
had not prevailed against him, he
dent theology and lifestyle
wrenched Jacob's hip at its
dedicated to the service of
socket ... then he said, 'Let me
God and commitment to His
go for dawn is breaking.' But
teachings.
The Torah teaches
he answered, 'I will not let you
that
by
having
us named
go unless you bless me.' Said
Israel
(one
who
struggles), we
the other, 'What is your
will
always
have
to struggle
name?' He replied, `Jacob.'
with
our
appetites,
desires
Said he, 'Your name shall no
and impulses.
longer be Jacob, but Israel, for
Therefore, the moment of
you have striven with beings
victory is not in Jacob's subdu-
divine and human and have
RABBI IRWIN
ing of the mysterious adver-
prevailed.' Jacob asked, 'Pray,
GRONER
sary. It is achieved in the
tell me your name.' But he
Special
to
the
bestowing of the blessing,
said, 'You must not ask my
Jewish
News
which
constitutes the victory
name!' And he blessed him
over
darkness
and fear. And
there." (Genesis 32: 25-31)
what is the blessing? A change of name,
The profound mystery: Who
which is nothing less than a change of
fought Jacob?
essence, of personality. Jacob emerges
The Midrash and the leading com-
mentator on the Middle Ages, Rashi, say transformed as a man, and that transfor-
mation is the essential lesson of the story.
that Jacob was battling the spirit of
This lesson bears renewed emphasis in
Esau. Thus, Jacob experienced the entire
our
day. Modern man has conquered
struggle throughout Jewish history
nature,
but cannot evade the challenge of
between the Jew and his enemies, with
"How do I deal with my selfhood?" The
Jacob representing the Jewish people and
lives of many people can be described as
Esau representing the hostile nations
running away from self-confrontation,
who vowed to destroy us. Although they
the confrontation that Jacob underwent
struggle the whole long night of the bit-
ter exile and Jacob is maimed, ultimately which enabled him to achieve a new
awareness of his identity. A psychiatrist
with daybreak, representing redemption,
said, "Our problem is not primarily to fit
he emerges victorious.
a man to face his environment, but to fit
Modern Jewish commentaries, how-
a man to face himself!"
ever, emphasizing "Jacob was left alone,"
Each of us needs to discover in expe-
believe that the whole episode was an
riences of self-encounter those truths
internal struggle. Jacob was fighting the
that will enable us — as they- enabled
spirit of Esau within himself. Esau, who
our forefather Jacob/Israel — to move
gave up his birthright for a mess of pot-
forward on the journey of life victorious,
tage, was a creature of impulse, who
unafraid and bearing divine blessings. 1-1
required immediate gratification. His
desires must be satisfied now; his lust
appeased immediately. But Jacob under-
stood that one must sacrifice the present
to achieve the fulfillment of the future.
Who was the mysterious stranger
Yet, Jacob, like all humanity, was
who fought Jacob: the spirit of
a child of two worlds: earth and
Esau, the hostile nations, or Jacob
heaven. He could be party to a cruel
himself? What is the significance of
hoax played on his father and broth-
the changing of his name from
er; he fought Laban's treachery with
Jacob to Israel? In what way was
crafty schemes of his own; at times,
Jacob changed by the struggle with
his adversary?
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
Shabbat Vayislach:
Genesis 32:4-36.43;
Hosea 11:7-12:12.
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11/26
1999
Man's Real Challenge
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