Judaism: Temple Institute: Who was the Angel?
Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 7:59 AM
Thoughts on this week's Torah portion from the Old City of Jerusalem.
Rabbi Chaim Richman
Rabbi Chaim Richman is the Director of the International Department of The Temple Institute in Jerusalem.
Yaakov Avinu's (our Forefather Jacob's) midnight encounter with a mysterious angel:
Who was this angel, what was his purpose, and by what name was he known?
Yaakov overcomes the angel, and by doing so gains insight into all these questions.
He also acquires for himself a new name, a new identity, and a new role to play in establishing the Divine presence here on this earth.