Parashat Vayishlach 5783

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

In this week’s Torah reading, Parashat Vayishlach, Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau, who he ran away from, fearing that Esau would kill him because Jacob tricked him out of his birthright. The night before their confrontation, Jacob struggles with a man, and he wakes up injured. The commentators wonder if Jacob truly struggled with someone who was physically there? Was it an actual person? Was it an angel of God? Or some say that perhaps Jacob was actually struggling with himself, in a dream perhaps? Whatever happened, after this wrestling match, Jacob winds up with the socket of his hip being strained. Have you ever endured a similar situation – where you needed to have a difficult conversation, or confrontation, or meeting with someone, and you felt like you were actually mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or perhaps even physically wrestling with someone , or perhaps yourself? This account in the Torah should give us strength, that just as Jacob had to face one of his greatest foes, and could not sleep the night before, we too might find ourselves in similar situations. But we need to remember – Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!