Vayishlach: Ya'akov or Israel?

After reviewing the parsha and seeing the way that Ya'akov dealt with his historical meeting with his brother Esau, one must ask whether Ya'akov acted properly by overly flattering his brother. Or were his actions despised by our rabbis?

Historically, chazal would review these chapters in the Torah when they had to meet representatives of the

Yet, the Talmud informs us that it is forbidden to flatter an evil person in this world.

nations, especially from Rome, which is Edom-Esau. They would prepare like Ya'akov, by lowering their heads in the presence of the nations. Apparently, from here we see that Ya'akov's actions were proper, if the rabbis would follow in his ways.

Yet, the Talmud informs us that it is forbidden to flatter an evil person in this world. How, then, was it possible that Ya'akov flattered Esau, saying: "I have seen your face and it is the face of an angel." The rabbis tell us that in the case of Ya'akov it was different, because it was a matter of life and death, as Esau came with the intent to kill him. And in such a case, it would be permitted to flatter the evil one.

Still, we find that our rabbis, of beloved memory, rebuke Ya'akov's continuous bowing down to Esau, as they said: "You bowed down eight times to Esau; know that he will have eight kings to rule the land before there is a king in Israel."

They also disapproved of Ya'akov sending messengers to Esau and drawing his attention, saying: "If you would not have sent messages to Esau in the first place, he would have gone on his way to the land of Edom without meeting up with you; now you brought this upon yourself."

Moreover, they chew Ya'akov out for sending all of the "mincha-gifts" to Esau. The "mincha-gift" is supposed to represent a show of faith in G-d, for it is the little grain that the poor man brings as a gift to G-d in the Holy Temple, and here Ya'akov took the "gift of faith" and brought it over to his brother Esau.

In essence, there are two aspects to Ya'akov, and they are represented by the two names that he has. "Ya'akov" is the symbol of the exile - galut - that long journey which the Jewish people have taken over the past two thousand years. There, in the exile, Ya'akov is, at best, an unwanted guest, where he must lower his head and bow before the "good will" of the nations. Still, there is another side of Ya'akov, in which his name was changed by Esau's angel to "Israel". It is with the name Israel that he was able to struggle with Esau’s angel and overcome.

In this light, we can understand what the Rambam wrote in the laws concerning the non-Jew in the Land of Israel: "We do not let a non-Jew live in the Land, except if he takes upon himself the seven mitzvot of the children of Noah, and then still he must be subjected to the Jewish people through work and taxes. When does this take place? When the Jewish people have the upper hand and are strong in their own Land."

Apparently, that is the time of the name "Israel", when we rule over our own destiny. For it is only in the time when "Ya'akov" is transformed to "Israel" that we can be the light unto the nations that we were always meant to be.

It is time for transformation into a bigger destiny.

While we are still bowing down to the Esaus of the world, this can never be and we will never reach our mission.

In spite of the fact that HaShem, in His goodness, has returned us to our own Land to rule over our own destiny, we still have the Ya'akovs among us leading us; and with every turn they make they bow to the Esaus of this world. Netanyahu and Co. have done all they can to continue to find favor in the eyes of the Esaus by shutting down building for the Jews, as this is just the first of many steps to remove the Jews from their homes and give them over to the enemy.

The choice is still in our hands. The way of Ya'akov is the way of the past, which should have been left behind in the exile. Now is the Redemption period, and it is time for transformation into a bigger destiny. It is the time of Israel. And those who cannot or will not make the transformation should sit at home and make room for those who can walk tall these days.