Vayishlach – Peninim on the Torah

Eisav took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters… and all the wealth that he had acquired in the land of Canaan and went to a land because of Yaakov, his brother. (36:6)

Little things make a difference. It is striking, however, how these seemingly little things affect various people differently. We will present two examples of how little/minor actions had a negative effect on Yaakov Avinu, while a little act of decency on the part of Eisav earned him incredible reward. When Yaakov met with Eisav, he presented his family, consisting of his wives and their eleven children (see 32:23). Something is wrong – Yaakov had twelve children. Although this took place before the birth of Binyamin, what about Dinah? Her inclusion would have equaled twelve children. Chazal relate that Yaakov hid…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5771

And Dinah, the daughter of Leah whom she had borne to Yaakov, went out to see/look over the daughters of the land. (34:1)

Rashi notes that Dinah is called the “daughter of Leah,” as opposed to the “daughter of Yaakov.” He explains that her maternal pedigree is underscored due to her “going out,” which mimicked the “going out” of Leah, as it is written, “And Leah went out to greet him (Yaakov)” (Ibid. 30:16). Rashi suggests that Leah’s “going out” to greet Yaakov Avinu was also not fitting for her. As a result, her daughter Dinah had her own “going out” that ended in tragedy. When we peruse the pesukim and the various commentators, we find nothing inappropriate about Leah’s informing Yaakov that…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5771

And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but rather Yisrael, for you have striven, im Elokim and with people, and you have prevailed. (32:29)

In defining the phrase, im Elokim, which should be translated, “with G-d,” we find a difference of opinion among the commentators. Targum Yonasan ben Uziel defines the word Elokim as referring to angels of G-d. Thus, Yaakov Avinu fought with an angel. Targum Onkelos explains that the term Elokim refers to Hashem Himself, while the word preceding it, im, has the meaning of “before,” rather than “with.” Thus, the pasuk is translated such that the word im has two meanings: “You have striven before G-d and with people, “and” you have prevailed.” Horav Aharon Soloveitchik, zl, applies both of the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayishlach, 5771

When he perceived that he could not overcome him, he struck the ball of his thighbone; and the ball of Yaakov’s thighbone became dislocated as he wrestled with him. (32:26)

Obviously, the dynamics of this “wrestling match” – this spiritual struggle between the forces of evil and falsehood and the forces of good and truth – have created powerful, esoteric implications and ramifications for generations. Chazal shed some light upon this struggle and the meaning of Yaakov Avinu’s “limping” afterwards. Sforno presents an interesting rendering of the phrase: “He could not overcome him” from the pasuk quoted above. Eisav’s angel – who represented him in this struggle to overwhelm Yaakov’s middah, attribute, of emes, truth, and his clinging to Torah – fought in vain to weaken Yaakov’s resolve. He clung so…

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Eisav took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters… and all the wealth that he had acquired in the land of Canaan and went to a land because of Yaakov, his brother. (36:6)

And Dinah, the daughter of Leah whom she had borne to Yaakov, went out to see/look over the daughters of the land. (34:1)

And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Yaakov, but rather Yisrael, for you have striven, im Elokim and with people, and you have prevailed. (32:29)

When he perceived that he could not overcome him, he struck the ball of his thighbone; and the ball of Yaakov’s thighbone became dislocated as he wrestled with him. (32:26)

YEARS

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