Ba'al HaTurim comments that the gematriya (numerical equivalent of the letters) of the name "Esav" equals the gematriya of the word "shalom" (peace).
While Ba'al HaTurim's comment is certainly true (both Esav and shalom equal 376), the obvious question is what Ba'al HaTurim wants to teach us. After all, one hardly considers Esav to be a paragon of peace.
My father explained Ba'al HaTurim's comment as follows. To say that Ya'akov stands for peace is true and perhaps even self-evident. However, ultimately, it is irrelevant. Peace depends on the aggressor's willingness to accept it. Until and unless Esav is ready for peace, Ya'akov alone cannot achieve peace.
This is the significance of "Esav b'gematriya shalom."
It is clear and obvious that in Eretz Yisrael, we are Ya'akov and the Arabs are Esav.
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David Magence was born in St. Louis and educated in the yeshiva in Skokie. During his year at Kerem B'Yavne, he decided on Aliyah. Significantly, he and his wife arrived as olim on Yom HaShoah, 1976. Today, David works both as a school psychologist and as a tour guide. He lives in Har Nof, Jerusalem.
While Ba'al HaTurim's comment is certainly true (both Esav and shalom equal 376), the obvious question is what Ba'al HaTurim wants to teach us. After all, one hardly considers Esav to be a paragon of peace.
My father explained Ba'al HaTurim's comment as follows. To say that Ya'akov stands for peace is true and perhaps even self-evident. However, ultimately, it is irrelevant. Peace depends on the aggressor's willingness to accept it. Until and unless Esav is ready for peace, Ya'akov alone cannot achieve peace.
This is the significance of "Esav b'gematriya shalom."
It is clear and obvious that in Eretz Yisrael, we are Ya'akov and the Arabs are Esav.
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David Magence was born in St. Louis and educated in the yeshiva in Skokie. During his year at Kerem B'Yavne, he decided on Aliyah. Significantly, he and his wife arrived as olim on Yom HaShoah, 1976. Today, David works both as a school psychologist and as a tour guide. He lives in Har Nof, Jerusalem.
