VOLUME 113 NUMBER 6
Kislev 12, 5785
December 13, 2024
Parshas Vayishlach
Candlelighting Time 4:18
This is a pretty common cliché with which we are familiar. However, did we ever think that our great Patriarch Yaakov would also suffer from fear? After all, Hashem guaranteed him that he would return to his father’s home safe and sound. Even though he was now facing a powerful adversary Eisav who was approaching with what seemed to be a formidable army, just as the Egyptian forces were routed when they left bondage, so too, Hashem could destroy them in an instant. And, of course, Yaakov was surely aware of this. So why was he frightened?
S’fas Emes provides us with a profound and deep understanding of people and even someone as great as Yaakov. Intellectually Yaakov believed with complete and thorough faith that Hashem would save him. Although he did prepare for battle one must follow the dictates of common sense even while possessing tremendous reliance on Hashem. Additionally, he sent Eisav gifts to appease him, again a very obvious strategic move. Also, he davened to Hashem because that is certainly an act demonstrating one’s full trust that Hashem will assist in his time of need. The only aspect that Yaakov lacked was that he should feel that reliance of Hashem instead of just knowing that it is true. There is a level of total self-reliance based upon the assurance of Hashem that was not present. It is possible to assume that from the outside of seeing Yaakov one would not have noticed any trepidation. And, truth be told, there was none. But internalizing that ambience so that it is part and parcel of one’s own discernment is a challenge.
In a analogous situation when Yaakov received his message from Hashem that it was time to leave the house of Lavan, he informed Rachel and Leah and their response was that since anyhow we are not receiving any monetary gains from our father why should we not leave. And the obvious question is that they should have said that of course we are going to follow the command of Hashem and depart. And the answer is that the more meaningful and personal the message is, then it is easier to embrace and undertake what Hashem requests of us. So too by Yaakov he wanted to suppress his personal fear because he knew that Hashem would protect him and that innermost feeling was what he was dramatically involved in absorbing.
The Talmud actually asks why was Yaakov fearful since he had the guarantee from Hashem that all would be well. Our Sages answer that he was afraid that perhaps he had sinned and his lack of deportment might somehow negate the promises made to him or somewhat mitigate them. Even though he sent a message to Eisav that he had dwelled in the house of Lavan for twenty years and he did not compromise in the least in his observance of the mitzvos of Hashem nonetheless the ultra-righteous are always concerned lest they were not as careful as they should have been in every aspect and detail of the mitzvos that they had performed. Obviously, we only see Yaakov as a perfect outstanding individual but his perception of his level of enactment required that even the smallest blip is not acceptable. We are not on that level of achievement of Yaakov; however, we certainly can always deem to raise the bar ever so slightly so that we can enhance our service to Hashem.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
When Yaakov offered Eisav his gifts, he was response was that I have a lot. In other words, I don’t have everything that I would like to have but I have a tremendous accumulation of wealth. Eisav pursued material possessions and therefore he never was satisfied. CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABBOS
THE WORLD IS IN TREMENDOUS TURMOIL. AT HOME WE ARE WITNESSING UNCALLED FOR SHENANIGANS THAT ONLY SERVE TO CREATE MORASS. IN THE MIDDLE EAST, A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION IS UNFOLDING. AND YET WE LOOK UPON THE US MILITARY AND THE IDF TO COME TO OUR AID AND STABILIZE THE FALL OF SYRIA. WE MUST CONTINUE TO DAVEN THAT HASHEM THE MASTER CONTROLLER OF THE UNIVERSE WILL PROTECT US AND GUARD US FROM THOSE WHO REPRESENT EVIL IN ITS WORSE FORM.
