For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.
Yaakov Avinu is all about EMET, truth. Our
Parasha, Parashat VaYishlach and the recent Parshiyot in the surrounding weeks
are all about Yaakov Avinu, the Father of the Shvatim and the Father of Am
Yisrael. Another name for Yaakov is Israel, hence Am Yisrael and Bnei Yisrael.
Yaakov is our ultimate role model, our ultimate example, and represents the
ultimate way to live.
We know that Yaakov was not alone in the
world. He actually came from the same womb as his biggest enemy, one of Am
Yisrael’s biggest enemy’s: Esav. Esav, or Edom or present day America,
represents the complete opposite of Yaakov. Esav is all about the Chitztoniyut (the outside, the façade,
the falsity, the lie behind what seems so real). Yaakov is all about the Pnimiyut (the inside, the feelings, the
emotions and the intentions behind every action).
How can one say that Yaakov and Esav were so
different? After all they were both sons of Yitzchak Avinu, a man spiritually
higher than angels! One of the Avot (fathers) of Am Yisrael that was the Gedol
HaDor in his generation. A man that was 100% pure. Both Yaakov and Esav came
from his seed, and both came from the holy womb of Rivka Imenu! Rivka and all
the Emahot (mothers) of Am Yisrael are known for their belief in Hashem, their
love for every Jew, and most importantly the power of their Tefillot (prayers)
that changed nature (after all, they were all barren and had miracles of childbirth
after endless Tefillot).
So how did Esav come out so wicked from such
holy and righteous people?! The answer is simple: it was all in his hands. It
was his choice and his mistaken view of how to carry out life, especially a
religious one. The Chida shows us in his book Pnei David that every word that
the Torah says has meaning.
When Yaakov was heading to meet his evil
brother Esav, he prayed to Hashem. He said Save me from my brother, from Esav.
The question arises: Why did Yaakov have to pray to Hashem and say “my brother,
from Esav?!” He could of simply said “from my brother” or “from Esav.” Why do
you a double language? To show us the falsity that Esav stands for. The
mistaken path Esav followed.
It is known that Esav did remarkably well in
the Mitzvah of Kibud Av, respecting one’s father. His Kibud Av was
unbelievable. Therefore, Yaakov was praying to Hashem, I know that because of
Esav’s Kibud Av he has the perceived personality trait of brotherly love, of Achva (like the word Ach, brother)! However, HASHEM SAVE ME
FROM ESAV! After our father will pass away I know “my brother” will become
“Esav” and chase me to kill me! He has no real emotion, no real brotherly love,
nothing true to him! It’s all a show!
Go to manhattan’s streets and America’s malls
and shopping centers. At this time of the year they are picked with
advertisements of people smiling with their holiday garments and props. The
non-Jews know how to put up a show, they know how to act and behave nicely and
under a civilized fashion. Like the Nazi’s Imach
Shemam (I am definitely not comparing Nazi’s to fashion-avertisers) who
were known to be civilized people. They even said Please and Thank you when
passing the dead bodies of poor Jews in the Holocaust! Hashem yaazor.
But even more so: Yaakov is praying to Hashem:
PLEASE SAVE ME FROM THE LIES OF THIS WORLD! From the Esav, the falsity behind the things that might look real but really
have no meaning for my duty in this world.
We know the Torah is Emet, it is the truth, and no matter what generation we are in and
no matter what circumstances befall us, Am Yisrael will always follow the Torah
HaKdosha. Are we lying to ourselves or do we strive to reach the truth?
Judaism=Think.
Shabbat Shalom!
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sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy
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