On the way home from Laban’s house, Jacob received word that Esau was coming towards him with an army of 400 men. He understood that Esau’s hatred had not yet abated since thirty-four years earlier, when they had last seen each other.
Jacob prepared for his meeting with Esau in three ways: He first sent a gift to Esau, he prayed to G-d for assistance, and he planned a military strategy.
The gift was meant to appease Esau’s enmity. Jacob wanted to show that he would share his material success with Esau, and that he was not trying to usurp his brother’s blessing for his own material gain. Yet Jacob was realistic too. In the event that Esau would not be placated by the gift, Jacob realized he must prepare for war. He divided his camp into two parts. If one camp would be attacked, the other would always be able to flee to safety, thus ensuring Jacob’s survival.
But even after both of these precautions were taken, Jacob realized that salvation was dependent upon the Al-mighty. He therefore prayed for G-d’s protection from the dangers of Esau.
Jacob’s concern about his future was a valid one. The night before the meeting, after taking his family across the river, Jacob returned to retrieve some small pitchers he had forgotten behind. While alone, an angel fought with Jacob until morning. The Talmud identifies this angel as the spiritual force of Esau. The struggle actually foreshadowed the physical meeting Jacob would encounter the next day with Esau. The angel could not win over Jacob, but he did wound Jacob’s thigh. The commentators understand the symbolism of the thigh as a reference to Jacob’s children, thereby threatening Jacob’s survival. Jacob would not let the angel go until he blessed him. This was Esau’s admission and recognition of Jacob’s rights to their father’s blessings. The angel named Jacob “Israel”, meaning that he was victorious in his quest over the angel.
The following day Esau did have a change of heart and let Jacob return home in peace.
Jacob’s challenges were not yet over, though. The prince, Shechem, violated his daughter Dinah, leading to Shimon and Levi’s destroying the entire city. Later, Rachel, his wife, died in childbirth shortly before he returned home. Jacob decided to bury her near Bethlehem, instead of in Chevron with the other Patriarchs and Matriarchs. He wanted to allow his descendants to be able to pray by her tomb during their exile from Jerusalem. Rachel’s tomb remains a special place to pray for our needs until this day.
“Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob went out to look...”(Gen. 34:1)
The Talmud explains that Dinah acted somewhat immodestly, resulting in her violation at the hands of Shechem. Rav Yerucham Levovitz once observed a group of university students walking to their classes. He noticed the flirtatious behavior between the young men and women. “Look at that,” he exclaimed, “ These people’s behavior has no effect whatsoever on their academic achievements, as many of them will be quite accomplished. Yet, we can see how even one inappropriate glance at something immodest can be extremely destructive to one’s Torah study and prayer. Do we need any other proof to the Divine origin of Torah?”
Did you know...
One should make every effort to light the Chanukah candles at the proper time, and not earlier or later. Most authorities rule that one should light within a half hour after sunset. If one will not be at home all evening, he may light after plag Mincha, which is approximately an hour before sunset during the winter months, however, the candles must be able to burn until a half hour after the proper time for lighting. If one cannot come home at the proper time, he may still light the entire evening, as long as there are passersby on the street. If one will not return until very late, he may still light if there is someone else in the house who can view the candles. One who is inn transit should appoint a messenger to light on his behalf.
