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The blessing which Eisav’s angel bestowed upon Yaakov inadvertently hurt his descendants until this very day. When an individual member of another sect or nation commits any form of transgression, he alone is held accountable. Communal responsibility is not imposed upon the entire nation for the offense of an individual. This rule, however, unfortunately does not apply to Bnei Yisrael. When a Jew – a “Yaakov”- sins, it is not viewed as a singular transgression of one person; the entire community of “Yisrael” is held responsible. Your name will no longer be called “Yaakov” – but “Yisrael” from now you…

Yaakov’s struggle with Eisav’s angel is memorialized in halacha by the prohibition against the consumption of the muscle injured in this struggle. The commentaries state a number of reasons as rationales for this mitzvah. These serve to guide Jewish survival during our exile. Horav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch Z”l notes the symbolic value of this injury. He points out that Yaakov’s physical injury represents for Eisav the real power that makes Yaakov invincible. Indeed, Yaakov’s descendants realize that their existence is not dependent upon the presence or absence of the thigh muscle. If Yaakov falters, it is not due to a…

This is the  first time that  the descendants of  Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov  are referred to by the name Yisroel. The reference here appears even  before  Yaakov’s  name  was officially  changed  by  Hashem. The response  of the children of Yaakov to the terrible tragedy that befell their sister emanates from a people who are already Bnei Yisroel.  They already  feel a part of a nation that will  fight and sacrifice itself for the name of Hashem. The lofty concepts of ethics, virtue and  moral dignity, are inherent in this name. It is particularly significant that the first struggle by a…