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p i ell uee ig
Still the most significant meaning
comes from Jacob's own explanation.
After this "no holds barred" match,
not only is Jacob's name changed to
Israel, but he also changes the name of
that very place to Peniel (meaning face
of God), because he says, "I have seen
a divine being face-to-face." (32:31)
wenty years have passed
The name Jacob now claims as his
since Jacob tricked his
own, in combination with the name
father Isaac to receive his
of this place, provides the greatest
brother Esau's first born
explanation of where we have come
blessing. Since that time, to a degree,
from and what we believe. His new
Jacob has been on the run.
name, Israel, which becomes the name
Life has been good to him. But he
of the Jewish people, can be
has not seen or dealt with his
translated as "one who wres-
brother Esau as of yet. In
tles with God" — and that
order to return to his home-
is what best represents us.
land, he must pass through
We are not called believers
Esau's land. In making the
in God, or followers of God,
decision for such a journey,
even though those names
Jacob knows he must deal
may be true. We are
with his past. .
wrestlers. We challenge; we
So Jacob sends lavish gifts
question; we grapple with
to Esau. He helps his family
our God. We even doubt.
across the stream of Jabbok,
Also like Jacob, in the
RABBI
but remains alone.
midst of his wrestling, we
MICHAEL L.
Suddenly, we find our
never let go. In the midst of
MOSKOWITZ
patriarch wrestling with
our most difficult struggle,
Special to the
some being, what most
we still hold on to God,
explain as an angel. Jacob
Jewish News
even if we are simultaneous-
prevails, though not unin-
ly questioning.
jured, and holds the angel
What an incredible state-
demanding a blessing. The angel says,
ment of our Judaism this is. We know
"Your name shall no longer be Jacob,
that life is both extremely difficult and
but Israel, for you have striven with
wonderful, often at the same time. At
beings divine and human and have
times, we may want to give up, to give
prevailed" (Genesis 32:29).
in. But as Jacob ultimately succeeded
by holding on, so too, do we.
Jacob saw Esau coming and bowed
low before him seven times until he
was next to his brother. Esau ran to
greet him, embraced him and kissed
Israel. Yes, he recognized his brother
Jacob; but now this man was Israel, an
individual who held on to God and
allowed God to carry him through
this most difficult moment.
As a result, we see a man who at
Some sages argue that what Jacob
the same time was able to embrace his
experienced was entirely an internal
past and create a future — for himself,
event — a man wrestling with his own
for his family and for us, the people of
soul as he begins to deal with his past
Israel. May we honor our name as we
transgressions.
wrestle with God, as we hold on to
Rashi argues that the being Jacob
God in everything we do.
encountered was none other than
Esau's angel. In order to survive his
next day's experience with Esau, he
needed first to better the angel —
holding this angel and demanding a
To be a true follower, one must
blessing from it. In so doing, he now
struggle; in what ways do we face
had the strength and confidence that
daily struggles to be good follow-
ultimately he would receive the same
ers as well as good leaders? How
from his brother.
can we make this the "best of all
possible worlds?"
Shabbat Vayishlach:
Genesis 32:4-36:43;
Hosea 11:742:12.
'P H 9 1 °11..4 3 1 0
Torah Portion
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Lincoln 1.696
Sherwood Square
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(248) 569-6699
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Monday-Saturday Sam-10 • m Sunday 9sfin-11
-
Wrestling with
beings both
human and
divine.
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Conversations
Michael L. Moskowitz
Temple Shir Shalom.
lducational Exchange
Decet
The Real Story of Chanukah
or How a Civil War Became the Festival of Lights
Come and hear
Rabbi Aaron Bergman
Director of Jewish Studies, Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit
Monday, December 18, 2000
8:00 - 9:30 p.m.
voreiNATCHERS* • 28555 Orchard Lake Rd, West
Bloomfik..-:
(1/2 mile south of 13 Mile, on the west side of Orchard Lake Rd.)
For more information, please contact Debbie Ornstein at the
Agency for Jewish Education, (248) 645-7860.
A program of
is a rabbi at
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Experience a fun and informal way to learn from-local rabbis
and educators, meet new people, have a nosh and unwind.
12/1
2006