The stage is set for a dramatic confrontation: Yaakov will face his twin brother Esav 34 years after the incident of the birthright, an episode that defined Yaakov's mission, yet haunts his psyche. Who is he, really? Deceiver, or man of destiny? Torah leader, or trickster supreme?
Yaakov divides his camp into fighting formation. He sends his family and all his possessions across the river Yabok. Then, inexplicably, he crosses back to the other side and is left "alone", where he grapples with a man - or is it an angel? - until dawn. He emerges wounded, but victorious.
In one sense, Yaakov is wrestling with the question: "Who am I?" In another sense, this episode defines all of Jewish history: We shall wrestle with our enemies, some of whom are obvious, others cleverly concealed, until the "dawn" of our Redemption. We shall triumph, but at a dear price.
Yet, I am intrigued: why did Yaakov go back across the Yabok? The G'mara Chulin says it was to retrieve some seemingly worthless "pachim k'tanim", little jugs.
Huh?
Perhaps what makes Yaakov great is not the earth-shaking events in his life that grab the headlines, but rather the little things, the things people normally throw in the pach (trash can). How one handles them can be the true measure of a person; often, what we remember most about people when they are gone are the small gestures, the anecdotes, the "little" things that add up to one big life.
How we conduct ourselves out of the limelight, when we are alone and don't have to impress anyone, is what truly defines us. When all the pretenses and facades are dropped, and you stare at yourself in the mirror, are you satisfied, deep down, with the face staring back at you?
The word Yabok is directly related to the word vayaya'bek (and he wrestled), found in the very next verse. Left alone on his side of the divide, Yaakov must grapple with the twin sides of his persona - the heel (ekev), who deals in subterfuge, and the upright man of truth (Yisrael, yashar).
Yaakov prevails, and he asks for the angel's blessing. Significantly, after affirming that Yaakov indeed has what it takes to be Yisrael, the angel ends his b'racha with one word of encouragement: "Vatuchal" - and you can do it.
We, too, "can do it." We must just remember that the struggle to be all we were created to be does not end after one match; it is a lifelong bout with what we're all about.
Yaakov divides his camp into fighting formation. He sends his family and all his possessions across the river Yabok. Then, inexplicably, he crosses back to the other side and is left "alone", where he grapples with a man - or is it an angel? - until dawn. He emerges wounded, but victorious.
In one sense, Yaakov is wrestling with the question: "Who am I?" In another sense, this episode defines all of Jewish history: We shall wrestle with our enemies, some of whom are obvious, others cleverly concealed, until the "dawn" of our Redemption. We shall triumph, but at a dear price.
Yet, I am intrigued: why did Yaakov go back across the Yabok? The G'mara Chulin says it was to retrieve some seemingly worthless "pachim k'tanim", little jugs.
Huh?
Perhaps what makes Yaakov great is not the earth-shaking events in his life that grab the headlines, but rather the little things, the things people normally throw in the pach (trash can). How one handles them can be the true measure of a person; often, what we remember most about people when they are gone are the small gestures, the anecdotes, the "little" things that add up to one big life.
How we conduct ourselves out of the limelight, when we are alone and don't have to impress anyone, is what truly defines us. When all the pretenses and facades are dropped, and you stare at yourself in the mirror, are you satisfied, deep down, with the face staring back at you?
The word Yabok is directly related to the word vayaya'bek (and he wrestled), found in the very next verse. Left alone on his side of the divide, Yaakov must grapple with the twin sides of his persona - the heel (ekev), who deals in subterfuge, and the upright man of truth (Yisrael, yashar).
Yaakov prevails, and he asks for the angel's blessing. Significantly, after affirming that Yaakov indeed has what it takes to be Yisrael, the angel ends his b'racha with one word of encouragement: "Vatuchal" - and you can do it.
We, too, "can do it." We must just remember that the struggle to be all we were created to be does not end after one match; it is a lifelong bout with what we're all about.