Torah Tuesday

Here is a quick reflection on this week's Torah portion Vayishlach.

The word vayishlach means, in this context, means to send forth.

Have you ever had an experience that was life-changing?

In this week's Torah portion, Jacob is preparing to meet up with his brother Esau (the last time the two saw each other, Jacob stole Esau's blessing). The Torah informs us that Jacob sends his family and possessions ahead. He, however, remains behind and encounters and wrestles with a man. 

The Torah goes out of its way not to tell us who the man is. Some argue that it was God or an angel, or maybe Jacob was wrestling with himself, or it was his brother Esau. Whoever it was, this experience forever changed. God tells Jacob, "Your name is Jacob; you shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name."

Rashi explains that the name Jacob means a man who comes as a lurker and trickster, but the name Israel signifies Prince and Chief; many of us understand this name to be one who struggles or one who wrestles with God.

Whatever we call Jacob, we know that the name Jacob represents his past, his old nature, and his life before encountering God. The name Israel represents Jacob's life after his encounter with the Divine; it represents his new nature, future, and destiny.

A genuine encounter with the Divine is life-changing, and after his wrestling match with God, Jacob names the place peni-el (the presence of God) and says, "I have seen the Divine  peniel el peniel face to face, yet my life was spared."

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Some prayerful music I wrote about my own experience of wrestling with the Divine

Elohai Neshama (My Soul)

Listen on Spotify

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