Jacob and Israel, the two names of our beloved people, evoke two aspects: Jacob [Ya'akov] recalls the ekev, the "heel", or the bottom part of the foot. Israel [Yisrael], containing the letters of rosh li [lit., my head], recalls the head, beginnings, and the most important part of a person. As our sages taught, "The word reshit [beginning], can only connote Israel."
Following the struggle between Jacob and the angelic prince of Esau, Esau's angelic prince calls Jacob "Israel," as it says, "Your name will no longer be said to be Jacob, but Israel. You have struggled with G-d and with man, and you have won." (Genesis 32:29) Rashi comments, "'With man': With Esau and Lavan, and you won. They couldn't beat you."
The "Israel" aspect of Jacob is revealed when the enemies of the Jewish People cannot beat them and Israel wins. G-d therefore calls Jacob "Israel". "G-d said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but your name will not be only Jacob. You will also have Israel as a name." (35:10) As Rashi comments, "'Israel' connotes being prince [sar] and ruler."
For thousands of years, the Jewish People have been facing struggles, just as Jacob struggled with Esau and Laban. Throughout all of these struggles, Israel has survived and its enemies have been unable to vanquish it; neither will they ever be able to in the future. Yet, as long as we were in the exile, we had the aspect of Jacob, being under the other nations' heel.
Now, at last, with G-d's help, we are meriting to see with our own eyes the rebirth of Israel. We are ascending from the status of "heel" to that of "head," and it is no coincidence that our country is called the State of Israel. Through us, our sages' exposition is being fulfilled: "'Your name will no longer be said to be Jacob, but Israel': It is not that the name 'Jacob' will be eliminated, but that it will become secondary to Israel." (Berachot 12b)
The further we move along the ascending path, the more familiarity we will have with our unique identity as a chosen people, a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. We will then recognize the destiny of the Jewish People, which is to crown G-d king of the world, and to shower light and goodness on all mankind. By such means, all the people on earth will come to know that HaShem, the G-d of Israel, is King, and His kingdom rules over all. Amen.
Following the struggle between Jacob and the angelic prince of Esau, Esau's angelic prince calls Jacob "Israel," as it says, "Your name will no longer be said to be Jacob, but Israel. You have struggled with G-d and with man, and you have won." (Genesis 32:29) Rashi comments, "'With man': With Esau and Lavan, and you won. They couldn't beat you."
The "Israel" aspect of Jacob is revealed when the enemies of the Jewish People cannot beat them and Israel wins. G-d therefore calls Jacob "Israel". "G-d said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but your name will not be only Jacob. You will also have Israel as a name." (35:10) As Rashi comments, "'Israel' connotes being prince [sar] and ruler."
For thousands of years, the Jewish People have been facing struggles, just as Jacob struggled with Esau and Laban. Throughout all of these struggles, Israel has survived and its enemies have been unable to vanquish it; neither will they ever be able to in the future. Yet, as long as we were in the exile, we had the aspect of Jacob, being under the other nations' heel.
Now, at last, with G-d's help, we are meriting to see with our own eyes the rebirth of Israel. We are ascending from the status of "heel" to that of "head," and it is no coincidence that our country is called the State of Israel. Through us, our sages' exposition is being fulfilled: "'Your name will no longer be said to be Jacob, but Israel': It is not that the name 'Jacob' will be eliminated, but that it will become secondary to Israel." (Berachot 12b)
The further we move along the ascending path, the more familiarity we will have with our unique identity as a chosen people, a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. We will then recognize the destiny of the Jewish People, which is to crown G-d king of the world, and to shower light and goodness on all mankind. By such means, all the people on earth will come to know that HaShem, the G-d of Israel, is King, and His kingdom rules over all. Amen.