Vayishlach by Ceaser

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Vayishlachby Ceaser
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Overview

• Jacob returns to the Holy Land after a 20-year
  stay in Charan, and sends angel-emissaries to
  Esau in hope of a reconciliation, but his
  messengers report that his brother is on the
  warpath with 400 armed men. Jacob prepares for
  war, prays, and sends Esau a large gift
  (consisting of hundreds of heads of sheep and
  cattle) to appease him.
• That night, Jacob ferries his family and
  possessions across the Yabbok River he, however,
  remains behind and encounters the angel that
  embodies the spirit of Esau, with whom he
  wrestles until daybreak. Jacob suffers a
  dislocated hip but vanquishes the supernal
  creature, who bestows on him the name Israel,
  which means "He who prevails over the Divine."

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Overview

• Jacob and Esau meet, embrace and kiss, but part
  ways. Jacob purchases a plot of land near
  Shechem, whose crown prince -- also called
  Shechem -- abducts and rapes Jacob's daughter
  Dinah. Dinah's brothers Simon and Levi avenge the
  deed by killing all male inhabitants of the city
  after rendering them vulnerable by convincing
  them to circumcise themselves.
• Jacob journeys on. Rachel dies while giving birth
  to her second son, Benjamin, and is buried in a
  roadside grave near Bethlehem. Reuben loses the
  birthright because he interferes with his
  father's marital life. Jacob arrives in Hebron,
  to his father Isaac, who later dies at age 180
  (Rebecca has passed away before Jacob's arrival).
• Our parshah concludes with a detailed account of
  Esau's wives, children and grandchildren, and the
  family histories of the people of Se'ir among
  whom Esau settled.

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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob sent messengers before him to Esau his
  brother in the land of Gabla the territory of the
  Edomites, and instructed them to say, Thus shall
  you speak to my lord Esau Thus saith thy servant
  Jakob, With Laban have I dwelt, and have tarried
  until now. And of all that in which my father
  blessed me there is nothing in my hand but I
  have a few oxen and asses, sheep, and servants
  and handmaids and I have sent to tell my lord
  that that blessing hath not profited me that I
  may find mercy in thine eyes and that thou mayest
  not maintain (enmity) against me on account
  thereof.

Jacobs Well 1869
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And the messengers returned to Jakob, saying, We
  came to thy brother, to Esau, and he also cometh
  to meet thee, and four hundred chief warriors
  with him. Jerusalem. And four hundred men,
  warlike leaders with him. And Jakob was greatly
  afraid, because for twenty years he had not been
  mindful of the glory of his father and he had
  anxiety and he divided the people who were with
  him, the sheep, and oxen, and camels, into three
  troops, for a portion. to Leah, and a portion to
  Rachel. And he said, If Esau come to the one
  troop of them and smite it, the remaining troop
  may escape. And Jakob said, God of my father
  Abraham, Thou, the God of my father Izhak, the
  Lord, who saidst to me, Return to thy country and
  to thy kindred, and I wilt do thee good I am
  altogether less than any of the (acts of)
  goodness and truth which Thou hast exercised
  towards Thy servant for with my staff, alone, I
  passed this Jardena, and now I am become two
  bands.

Joseph's Tomb,1865
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• Deliver me I pray, from the hand of my elder
  brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him
  for he hath been mindful of the glory of his
  father lest he come and smite the mother with
  the children. But Thou hast promised, I Will
  surely do thee good, and will make thy sons many
  as the sand of the sea be numbered for that
  cannot be numbered for Multitude.
• And he abode there that night and he took what
  was ready at his hand a present for Esau his
  brother she goats two hundred, and he goats
  twenty ewes two hundred and rams twenty milch
  camels with their young ones thirty cows forty,
  and bulls ten, small colts ten..Jerusalem. Arid
  small colts ten. And he made them ready by the
  hand of his servants in flocks apart, and said to
  his servants, Pass over before me, and put much
  (room) between flock and flock. And he instructed
  the first, Saying, When Esau my brother shall
  meet thee, and ask of thee, saying, Whose art
  thou, and whither art thou journeying and whose
  are these before thee?

Joseph's Tomb, 1894
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• Thou halt and sayth it is a gift of thy servant
  Jakob, which he sends to my lord Esau, and,
  behold, he also cometh after us. And so he
  instructed the second, and the third, and all
  them who followed the flock, saying According to
  these words You must speak with Esau when you
  find him, and say, And, behold, thy servant Jakob
  also cometh after us. For he said, I will make
  his countenance friendly by the gift which goeth
  before me, and afterward will see his face
  peradventure he may accept me. And the present
  passed over before him, and he abode that night
  in camp And the night in the camp. And he arose
  in the night and took his two wives, and his two
  concubines, and eleven children, and went over
  the ford Jubeka. And taking them he made them
  pass over the torrent, and all that he had went
  over.

Jews In Tiberias, 1894.
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob remained alone beyond the Jubeka and
  an Angel contended with him in the likeness of a
  man. And he said, Hast thou not promised to give
  the tenth of all that is thine? And, behold, thou
  hast ten sons and one daughter nevertheless thou
  hast not tithed them. Immediately he set apart
  the four firstborn of the four mothers, and there
  remained eight. And he began to number from
  Shimeon, and Levi came up for the tenth.
• Michael answered and said, Lord of the world is
  Thy lot. And on account of these things he
  (Michael) remained from God at the torrent till
  the column of the morning was ascending. And he
  saw that he had not power to hurt him, and he
  touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow
  of Jakob's thigh was distorted in his contending
  with him.

Mount Gerizim, 1869
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And he said, Let me go, for the column of the
  morning ascendeth and the hour cometh when the
  angels on high offer praise to the Lord of the
  world and I am one of the angels of praise, but
  from the day that the world was created my time
  to praise hath not come until now.
• And he said, I will not let thee go, until thou
  bless me. JERUSALEM. And the hollow of Jakob's
  thigh was displaced in contending with him. And
  he said, Send me away, for the column of the dawn
  ariseth, and, behold, the hour cometh for the
  angels to praise. And he said, I will not release
  thee until thou bless me.

Fishermen At Tiberias, 1858
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And he said, What is thy name? He answered,
  Jakob. And he said, Thy name shall be no more
  called Jakob but Israel, because thou art
  magnified with the angels of the Lord and with
  the mighty, and thou hast prevailed with them.
  And Jakob asked and said, Show me now thy name.
  And he said, Why dost thou ask for my name? And
  he blessed Jakob there.

Tiberias Gate In The Walls, 1894
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob called the name of the place Peniel
  for he said, I have seen the Angels of the Lord
  face to face, and my soul is saved. And the sun
  rose upon him before his time, (the sun) which on
  his account had set before his time, on his going
  out from Beersheba, as he crossed over Peniel.
  And he began to journey, and was lame upon his
  thigh. Therefore the sons of Israel eat not the
  sinew which shrank, which is in the hollow of the
  thigh of cattle and of wild animals, until this
  day because the Angel touched and laid hold of
  the hollow of the right thigh of Jakob, in the
  place of the sinew which shrank.

Shechem From The North-West
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob called the name of the place Peniel
  for he said, I have seen the Angels of the Lord
  face to face, and my soul is saved. And the sun
  rose upon him before his time, (the sun) which on
  his account had set before his time, on his going
  out from Beersheba, as he crossed over Peniel.
  And he began to journey, and was lame upon his
  thigh. Therefore the sons of Israel eat not the
  sinew which shrank, which is in the hollow of the
  thigh of cattle and of wild animals, until this
  day because the Angel touched and laid hold of
  the hollow of the right thigh of Jakob, in the
  place of the sinew which shrank.

On The Main Road From Shechem To Jerusalem, 1913
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• XXXIII. And Jakob lifted up his eyes and looked,
  and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred
  men of war. And be divided the children unto
  Leah, and to Rahel, and to the two concubines,
  and placed the concubines and their sons
  foremost for he said, If Esau come to destroy
  the children and abuse the women, he will do it
  with them, and meantime we will arise and
  encounter him in fight and Leah and her children
  after, and Rahel and Joseph after them. And he
  himself went over before them, praying and asking
  mercy before the Lord and he bowed upon the
  earth seven times, until he met with his brother.

Bet El (Bethin), 1905
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and
  fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
  Esau wept on account of the pain of his teeth
  which were shaken but Jakob wept because of the
  pain of his neck. JERUSALEM. And Esau ran to
  meet him, and hugged him, and fell upon his neck
  and kissed him. Esau wept for the crushing of his
  teeth, and Jakob wept for the tenderness of his
  neck.
• And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wives and
  the children, and said, Who are these with thee?
  And he said, They are the souls which have been
  given to me through mercy from before the Lord
  upon thy servant. And the concubines came near,
  they and their children, and bowed themselves
  and Leah also approached, and her children, and
  bowed and afterward Joseph came near and stood
  before Rahel, and hid her by his stature, and
  they bowed. And he said, What to thee is all this
  troop that I have met? And he said, It is a
  present I have sent to find mercy in the eyes of
  my lord. And Esau said, I have much substance, my
  brother let what thou hast be confirmed to thee.

Tiberias, 1862
Tiberias, 1870
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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob said, Say not so, I beseech thee. If
  now I have found favor in thy eyes, accept my
  present from my hand because I have seen the
  look of thy face, and it is to me as the vision
  of the face of thy angel for, lo, thou art
  propitious to me. Receive now the present which
  is brought to thee, because it hath been given me
  through mercy from before the Lord, and because I
  have much substance. And he urged upon him, and
  he received.
• And he said, Let us journey and proceed, and I
  will go along with thee, till thou come to the
  house of thy habitation. And he said to him, My
  lord knoweth that the children are tender, and
  the flocks and kine giving milk are with me and
  if I overdrive them one day, all the flock may
  die. Let me beseech my lord to pass over and
  journey before thy servant, and I will lead oil
  quietly alone, according to the foot of the work
  which is before me, and according to the foot of
  the instruction of the children until the time
  that I come to my lord at Gabla. JERUSALEM. That
  the children are tender. And Esau said, Let me
  now leave with thee some of the soldiers who are
  with me. But he said, Why this? Let me find
  favour before thee, my lord. And a miracle was
  wrought for Jakob, and that day Esau returned on
  his way to Gabla.

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Targum of JONATHAN BEN UZZIEL

• And Jakob journeyed to Succoth, and sojourned
  there the twelve months of the year and he
  builded in it a midrasha, and for his flocks he
  made booths therefore he called the name of the
  place Succoth. Then came Jakob in peace with all
  that he had to the city of Shekem, in the land of
  Kenaan, in his Coming from Padan Aram and he
  dwelt near the city, and bought the possession of
  a field where lie spread his tent from the hand
  of the sons of Hamor father of Shekem, for a
  hundred pearls. And he raised there an altar, and
  there he gave the tithes which he had set apart
  of all that he had before God, the God of Israel.

Caravanserai (Shechem)1925
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Sefer HaYashar
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Sefer HaYashar

• 1. And at that time Jacob sent messengers to his
  brother Esau toward the land of Seir, and he
  spoke to him words of supplication.
• 2. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye
  say to my lord, to Esau, Thus saith thy servant
  Jacob, Let not my lord imagine that my father's
  blessing with which he did bless me has proved
  beneficial to me.
• 3. For I have been these twenty years with Laban,
  and he deceived me and changed my wages ten
  times, as it has all been already told unto my
  lord.

Samaritan High Priest, 1900
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Sefer HaYashar

• 4. And I served him in his house very
  laboriously, and God afterward saw my affliction,
  my labor and the work of my hands, and he caused
  me to find grace and favor in his sight.
• 5. And I afterward through God's great mercy and
  kindness acquired oxen and asses and cattle, and
  men servants and maid servants.
• 6. And now I am coming to my land and my home to
  my father and mother, who are in the land of
  Canaan and I have sent to let my lord know all
  this in order to find favor in the sight of my
  lord, so that he may not imagine that I have of
  myself obtained wealth, or that the blessing with
  which my father blessed me has benefited me.

Northern Samaria
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Sefer HaYashar

• 7. And those messengers went to Esau, and found
  him on the borders of the land of Edom going
  toward Jacob, and four hundred men of the
  children of Seir the Horite were standing with
  drawn swords.
• 8. And the messengers of Jacob told Esau all the
  words that Jacob had spoken to them concerning
  Esau.
• 9. And Esau answered them with pride and
  contempt, and said unto them, Surely I have heard
  and truly it has been told unto me what Jacob has
  done to Laban, who exalted him in his house and
  gave him his daughters for wives, and he begat
  sons and daughters, and abundantly increased in
  wealth and riches in Laban's house through his
  means.
• 10. And when he saw that his wealth was abundant
  and his riches great he fled with all belonging
  to him, from Laban's house, and he led Laban's
  daughters away from the face of their father, as
  captives taken by the sword without telling him
  of it.
• 11. And not only to Laban has Jacob done thus but
  also unto me has he done so and has twice
  supplanted me, and shall I be silent?
• 12. Now therefore I have this day come with my
  camps to meet him, and I will do unto him
  according to the desire of my heart.

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Sefer HaYashar

• 13. And the messengers returned and came to Jacob
  and said unto him, We came to thy brother, to
  Esau, and we told him all thy words, and thus has
  he answered us, and behold he cometh to meet thee
  with four hundred men.
• 14. Now then know and see what thou shalt do, and
  pray before God to deliver thee from him.
• 15. And when he heard the words of his brother
  which he had spoken to the messengers of Jacob,
  Jacob was greatly afraid and he was distressed.
• 16. And Jacob prayed to the Lord his God, and he
  said, O Lord God of my fathers, Abraham and
  Isaac, thou didst say unto me when I went away
  from my father's house, saying,
• 17. I am the Lord God of thy father Abraham and
  the God of Isaac, unto thee do I give this land
  and thy seed after thee, and I will make thy seed
  as the stars of heaven, and thou shalt spread
  forth to the four sides of heaven, and in thee
  and in thy seed shall all the families of the
  earth be blessed.
• 18. And thou didst establish thy words, and didst
  give unto me riches and children and cattle, as
  the utmost wishes of my heart didst thou give
  unto thy servant thou didst give unto me all
  that I asked from thee, so that I lacked nothing.

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Sefer HaYashar

• 19. And thou didst afterward say unto me, Return
  to thy parents and to thy birth place and I will
  still do well with thee.
• 20. And now that I have come, and thou didst
  deliver me from Laban, I shall fall in the hands
  of Esau who will slay me, yea, together with the
  mothers of my children.
• 21. Now therefore, O Lord God, deliver me, I pray
  thee, also from the hands of my brother Esau, for
  I am greatly afraid of him.
• 22. And if there is no righteousness in me, do it
  for the sake of Abraham and my father Isaac.
• 23. For I know that through kindness and mercy
  have I acquired this wealth now therefore I
  beseech thee to deliver me this day with thy
  kindness and to answer me.
• 24. And Jacob ceased praying to the Lord, and he
  divided the people that were with him with the
  flocks and cattle into two camps, and he gave the
  half to the care of Damesek, the son of Eliezer,
  Abraham's servant, for a camp, with his children,
  and the other half he gave to the care of his
  brother Elianus the son of Eliezer, to be for a
  camp with his children.
• 25. And he commanded them, saying, Keep
  yourselves at a distance with your camps, and do
  not come too near each other, and if Esau come to
  one camp and slay it, the other camp at a
  distance from it will escape him.

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Sefer HaYashar

• 26. And Jacob tarried there that night, and
  during the whole night he gave his servants
  instructions concerning the forces and his
  children.
• 27. And the Lord heard the prayer of Jacob on
  that day, and the Lord then delivered Jacob from
  the hands of his brother Esau.
• 28. And the Lord sent three angels of the angels
  of heaven, and they went before Esau and came to
  him.
• 29. And these angels appeared unto Esau and his
  people as two thousand men, riding upon horses
  furnished with all sorts of war instruments, and
  they appeared in the sight of Esau and all his
  men to be divided into four camps, with four
  chiefs to them.
• 30. And one camp went on and they found Esau
  coming with four hundred men toward his brother
  Jacob, and this camp ran toward Esau and his
  people and terrified them, and Esau fell off the
  horse in alarm, and all his men separated from
  him in that place, for they were greatly afraid.
• 31. And the whole of the camp shouted after them
  when they fled from Esau, and all the warlike men
  answered, saying,
• 32. Surely we are the servants of Jacob, who is
  the servant of God, and who then can stand
  against us? And Esau said unto them, O then, my
  lord and brother Jacob is your lord, whom I have
  not seen for these twenty years, and now that I
  have this day come to see him, do you treat me in
  this manner?

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Sefer HaYashar

• 33. And the angels answered him saying, As the
  Lord liveth, were not Jacob of whom thou speaketh
  thy brother, we had not let one remaining from
  thee and thy people, but only on account of Jacob
  we will do nothing to them.
• 34. And this camp passed from Esau and his men
  and it went away, and Esau and his men had gone
  from them about a league when the second camp
  came toward him with all sorts of weapons, and
  they also did unto Esau and his men as the first
  camp had done to them.
• 35. And when they had left it to go on, behold
  the third camp came toward him and they were all
  terrified, and Esau fell off the horse, and the
  whole camp cried out, and said, Surely we are the
  servants of Jacob, who is the servant of God, and
  who can stand against us?
• 36. And Esau again answered them saying, O then,
  Jacob my lord and your lord is my brother, and
  for twenty years I have not seen his countenance
  and hearing this day that he was coming, I went
  this day to meet him, and do you treat me in this
  manner?
• 37. And they answered him, and said unto him, As
  the Lord liveth, were not Jacob thy brother as
  thou didst say, we had not left a remnant from
  thee and thy men, but on account of Jacob of whom
  thou speakest being thy brother, we will not
  meddle with thee or thy men.
• 38. And the third camp also passed from them, and
  he still continued his road with his men toward
  Jacob, when the fourth camp came toward him, and
  they also did unto him and his men as the others
  had done.
• 39. And when Esau beheld the evil which the four
  angels had done to him and to his men, he became
  greatly afraid of his brother Jacob, and he went
  to meet him in peace.

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Sefer HaYashar

• 40. And Esau concealed his hatred against Jacob,
  because he was afraid of his life on account of
  his brother Jacob, and because he imagined that
  the four camps that he had lighted upon were
  Jacob's servants.
• 41. And Jacob tarried that night with his
  servants in their camps, and he resolved with his
  servants to give unto Esau a present from all
  that he had with him, and from all his property
  and Jacob rose up in the morning, he and his men,
  and they chose from amongst the cattle a present
  for Esau.
• 42. And this is the amount of the present which
  Jacob chose from his flock to give unto his
  brother Esau and he selected two hundred and
  forty head from the flocks, and he selected from
  the camels and asses thirty each, and of the
  herds he chose fifty kine.
• 43. And he put them all in ten droves, and he
  placed each sort by itself, and he delivered them
  into the hands of ten of his servants, each drove
  by itself.
• 44. And he commanded them, and said unto them,
  Keep yourselves at a distance from each other,
  and put a space between the droves, and when Esau
  and those who are with him shall meet you and ask
  you, saying, Whose are you, and whither do you
  go, and to whom belongeth all this before you,
  you shall say unto them, We are the servants of
  Jacob, and we come to meet Esau in peace, and
  behold Jacob cometh behind us.

27
Sefer HaYashar

• 45. And that which is before us is a present sent
  from Jacob to his brother Esau.
• 46. And if they shall say unto you, Why doth he
  delay behind you, from coming to meet his brother
  and to see his face, then you shall say unto
  them, Surely he cometh joyfully behind us to meet
  his brother, for he said, I will appease him with
  the present that goeth to him, and after this I
  will see his face, peradventure he will accept of
  me.
• 47. So the whole present passed on in the hands
  of his servants, and went before him on that day,
  and he lodged that night with his camps by the
  border of the brook of Jabuk, and he rose up in
  the midst of the night, and he took his wives and
  his maid servants, and all belonging to him, and
  he that night passed them over the ford Jabuk.
• 48. And when he passed all belonging to him over
  the brook, Jacob was left by himself, and a man
  met him, and he wrestled with him that night
  until the breaking of the day, and the hollow of
  Jacob's thigh was out of joint through wrestling
  with him.
• 49. And at the break of day the man left Jacob
  there, and he blessed him and went away, and
  Jacob passed the brook at the break of day, and
  he halted upon his thigh.
• 50. And the sun rose upon him when he had passed
  the brook, and he came up to the place of his
  cattle and children.

28
Sefer HaYashar

• 51. And they went on till midday, and whilst they
  were going the present was passing on before
  them.
• 52. And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and
  behold Esau was at a distance, coming along with
  many men, about four hundred, and Jacob was
  greatly afraid of his brother.
• 53. And Jacob hastened and divided his children
  unto his wives and his handmaids, and his
  daughter Dinah he put in a chest, and delivered
  her into the hands of his servants.
• 54. And he passed before his children and wives
  to meet his brother, and he bowed down to the
  ground, yea he bowed down seven times until he
  approached his brother, and God caused Jacob to
  find grace and favor in the sight of Esau and his
  men, for God had heard the prayer of Jacob.
• 55. And the fear of Jacob and his terror fell
  upon his brother Esau, for Esau was greatly
  afraid of Jacob for what the angels of God had
  done to Esau, and Esau's anger against Jacob was
  turned into kindness.
• 56. And when Esau saw Jacob running toward him,
  he also ran toward him and he embraced him, and
  he fell upon his neck, and they kissed and they
  wept.

29
Sefer HaYashar

• 57. And God put fear and kindness toward Jacob in
  the hearts of the men that came with Esau, and
  they also kissed Jacob and embraced him.
• 58. And also Eliphaz, the son of Esau, with his
  four brothers, sons of Esau, wept with Jacob, and
  they kissed him and embraced him, for the fear of
  Jacob had fallen upon them all.
• 59. And Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women
  with their offspring, the children of Jacob,
  walking behind Jacob and bowing along the road to
  Esau.
• 60. And Esau said unto Jacob, Who are these with
  thee, my brother? are they thy children or thy
  servants? and Jacob answered Esau and said, They
  are my children which God hath graciously given
  to thy servant.
• 61. And whilst Jacob was speaking to Esau and his
  men, Esau beheld the whole camp, and he said unto
  Jacob, Whence didst thou get the whole of the
  camp that I met yesternight? and Jacob said, To
  find favor in the sight of my lord, it is that
  which God graciously gave to thy servant.
• 62. And the present came before Esau, and Jacob
  pressed Esau, saying, Take I pray thee the
  present that I have brought to my lord, and Esau
  said, Wherefore is this my purpose? keep that
  which thou hast unto thyself.
• 63. And Jacob said, It is incumbent upon me to
  give all this, since I have seen thy face, that
  thou still livest in peace.

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Sefer HaYashar

• 64. And Esau refused to take the present, and
  Jacob said unto him, I beseech thee my lord, if
  now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive
  my present at my hand, for I have therefore seen
  thy face, as though I had seen a god-like face,
  because thou wast pleased with me.
• 65. And Esau took the present, and Jacob also
  gave unto Esau silver and gold and bdellium, for
  he pressed him so much that he took them.
• 66. And Esau divided the cattle that were in the
  camp, and he gave the half to the men who had
  come with him, for they had come on hire, and the
  other half he delivered unto the hands of his
  children.
• 67. And the silver and gold and bdellium he gave
  in the hands of Eliphaz his eldest son, and Esau
  said unto Jacob, Let us remain with thee, and we
  will go slowly along with thee until thou comest
  to my place with me, that we may dwell there
  together.
• 68. And Jacob answered his brother and said, I
  would do as my lord speaketh unto me, but my lord
  knoweth that the children are tender, and the
  flocks and herds with their young who are with
  me, go but slowly, for if they went swiftly they
  would all die, for thou knowest their burdens and
  their fatigue.
• 69. Therefore let my lord pass on before his
  servant, and I will go on slowly for the sake of
  the children and the flock, until I come to my
  lord's place to Seir.

31
Sefer HaYashar

• 70. And Esau said unto Jacob, I will place with
  thee some of the people that are with me to take
  care of thee in the road, and to bear thy fatigue
  and burden, and he said, What needeth it my lord,
  if I may find grace in thy sight?
• 71. Behold I will come unto thee to Seir to dwell
  there together as thou hast spoken, go thou then
  with thy people for I will follow thee.
• 72. And Jacob said this to Esau in order to
  remove Esau and his men from him, so that Jacob
  might afterward go to his father's house to the
  land of Canaan.
• 73. And Esau hearkened to the voice of Jacob, and
  Esau returned with the four hundred men that were
  with him on their road to Seir, and Jacob and all
  belonging to him went that day as far as the
  extremity of the land of Canaan in its borders,
  and he remained there some time.

Passover As Celebrated By The Samaritans, 1900
32
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN
33
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• And he confronted the place and spent the night
  there, since the sun had set.. Why is father
  Jacob known as the "most chosen of the
  patriarchs," the most worthy of emulation from
  among the very paragons and path breakers of our
  faith? After all, it was Abraham who was actually
  the one who himself discovered the G-d of justice
  and compassion, and it was Isaac who walked the
  walk of self-sacrifice and commitment unto death
  for the sake of heaven. So why do our Talmudic
  Sages single out Jacob for highest accolade?
• I believe the beginning of our analysis can be
  found in another teaching of the Rabbis of the
  Talmud "Our patriarchs initiated the daily
  prayers
• Abraham enacted the morning prayer, (Shaharit)
• Isaac the afternoon prayer, (Minhah)
• and Jacob the evening prayer...(Arvit)" (B.T.
  Berakhot 28b).

34
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• I would suggest that each of these prayers, and
  especially the time when they are to be recited,
  encapsulate the essencethe seminal definition
  of each of their composers. Abraham symbolizes
  the dawn, the beginning of a new era, the
  optimism of a rising sun. After all, did not
  Abraham initiate an entirely novel picture of the
  universe with his discovery of ethical
  monotheism, a faith ideal which gave rise not
  only to Judaism but also to Christianity and
  Islam! And Abraham's success in winning so many
  adherents to his new faith as well as his
  financial accomplishments and military prowess
  make for an optimistic personality whose faith in
  G-d has enabled him to believe in himself and in
  his future.
• Isaac is more the pensive, withdrawn and
  peacefully passive stalwart, who submits to
  Avimelekh's treacherous deceit in silence, who
  courageously accompanies his father to his
  binding on the altar and who is bonded to the
  land of Israel with a profound love and
  commitment. His personality is much more akin to
  the stillness of the twilight, poignantly reposed
  after the "Sturm und Drang" of a difficult day.

35
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• Jacob is the patriarch of the night. Indeed, his
  many adventures, from the time he leaves his
  father's house in Israel to his successful
  encounter with an anonymous assailant (the spirit
  of Esau according to our Sages) some two decades
  later on his way back home, is Biblically
  portrayed as having taken place in the span of a
  night Jacob's dream as he sets forth into exile
  comes to him as he "confronted the place and
  spent the night there since the sun had set"
  (Genesis 2811), and after he successfully
  wrestles with a "man all night until the rising
  of the morning star, The Bible testifies that
  "the sun rose for him when he passed Penuel"
  (Genesis 3232). The midrash intensifies Jacob's
  identification with night by stressing that G-d
  interfered with nature and made the sun set
  earlier in the first instance and rise earlier in
  the latter instance (Rashi, 3232). Jacob dreamed
  in Bet-El at sunset, and passed Penuel at sunrise.

36
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• What is the symbolism of night? Night is a black,
  bleak awesome and frightening period of the day
  it is a time of unseen obstacles, fearful
  nightmares and it is therefore identified with
  tragedy and exile. From this perspective, Jacob
  is the patriarch of night he was hounded by
  Esau, deceived by Laban, bereft of a beloved wife
  and favored son for much of his adult life, and
  forced to spend many of his yearsincluding his
  last onesin exile from his homeland, Israel.
• Night is also the dark and frightening aspect of
  one's personality the id, or the evil instinct,
  is the difficult and often uncontrolled "negative
  side" (sitra ahara), which lurks in the heart of
  every individual ready to lunge forward and
  overtake one's being. In this respect as well
  Jacob had to confront the Esau within himself,
  the part of him which was very different from the
  "whole-hearted person who dwelt in tents of
  study, the deceiving schemer who yearned for the
  birthright, the blessings and patriarchal
  acceptance at any and all cost.

37
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• Indeed, Jacob confronted the night the night
  without and the night within, the objective
  challenges and tragedies which are part and
  parcel of an unredeemed world as well as the
  subjective temptations and seductions which are
  part and parcel of an unredeemed soulor rather
  of a soul-in-progress. Jacob confronted the
  nightand Jacob overcame the obstacles! The
  Almighty Himself testifies to his victory
  bestowing upon him a new name, Yisrael, "because
  you have fought with powers (elohim) and with
  individuals, and you have overcome" (Genesis
  3229).
• Jacob is the one patriarch who confronts the
  various dreams roundabout, rises falls and rises
  again just as do the ascending and descending
  angels in his initial dream at Bet-El, but
  eventually succeeds in emerging triumphant and
  whole. It is in this spirit that he bestows the
  ultimate blessing upon his grandchildren "May
  the Lord.. who has shepherded me until this day,
  may the Divine Messenger who has redeemed me from
  all evil, bless these youths..." (Genesis 489).

38
The PatriarchsRABBI SHLOMO RISKIN

• Jacob-Israel never sought a charmed life of
  consistent righteousness in which he would be
  carried from pinnacle to pinnacle of success by a
  constantly uplifting and beneficent G-d. His was
  rather a life of confrontation, conflict and
  struggle. He is the chosen of the patriarchs
  because it is ultimately his prayerand his
  triumphwhich must serve as the model for us all
  
• "Dear G-d, I do not ask that You make my life
  easy I only ask that You help me to be
  strongand to overcome.

39
The Zohar
40
Keter
The Garden of Eden
Binah
Chochmah
No Influence on our Material World
Gvurah
Chesed
Directly Influence on our Material World
Tiferet
Hod
Netzach
Yesod
Malchut
41
"And Ya'akov went out from Be'er Sheva..."

• 21. Adam was tried first HE WAS TEMPTED BY THE
  SERPENT. Because he was not careful, he was
  seduced, and he sinned with "a wife of harlotry,"
  (Hoshea 12) the primordial serpent.
• Noach was tried, but did not take heed. He was
  seduced BY A WIFE OF HARLOTRY and sinned, as it
  was written "and he drank of the wine, and was
  drunk and he was uncovered within his tent"
  (Beresheet 921).
• Avraham went in and departed, as it is written
  "And Avram went down to Egypt," (Beresheet 1210)
  and, "And Avram went up out of Egypt" (Beresheet
  131).
• Yitzchak went in and departed, as it is written
  "And Yitzchak went to Avimelech, king of the
  Philistines," (Beresheet 261) and,
• "And he went up from there to Be'er Sheva" (Ibid.
  23).

42
"And Ya'akov went out from Be'er Sheva..."

• 22. After Ya'akov entered the grade of faith,
  WHICH WAS THE DOMINION OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE
  RIGHT--he had to bring a gift to that side--THAT
  IS, TO THE RULER OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT,
  BY SURVIVING A TRIAL. For whoever survives THE
  TRIAL is beloved of and chosen by the Holy One,
  blessed be He. It is written "And Ya'akov went
  out from Be'er Sheva," from the side of faith,
  FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, "and went toward Charan,"
  which is the LEFT side, where a wife of harlotry
  TAKES HOLD, a fornicating wife. AND ALTHOUGH
  THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENCES AMONG THESE FIVE
  TRIALS--THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, THE HEADY WINE,
  EGYPT, THE PHILISTINES, AND CHARAN, WHICH WERE
  THE TRIALS OF ADAM, NOACH, AVRAHAM, YITZCHAK, AND
  YA'AKOV-- NEVERTHELESS, THEY HAVE THE SAME ROOT,
  NAMELY, THE DRAWING OF CHOCHMAH ONLY FROM DOWN
  UPWARDS, WHICH IS CALLED A 'WIFE OF HARLOTRY'.

43
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 23. A deep mystery is found in the strength of
  Yitzchak's light OF HOLINESS, and from the dregs
  of wine, WHICH ARE KLIPOT. One shape emerged FROM
  BOTH, made of GOOD AND EVIL, male and female, as
  one. It is red as a rose and extends to many
  sides and paths, HAVING MANY ASPECTS.
• The male is called 'Samael' and the female is
  always included within him. As on the side of
  holiness, ZEIR ANPIN AND NUKVA ARE ALWAYS
  INCLUDED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER so it is on the
  Other Side, a male and female are included within
  one another. The female of Samael is called a
  'serpent', "a wife of harlotry," "The end of all
  flesh," (Beresheet 613) and the end of days.

New York, NY Skyline
44
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 24. Two evil spirits cling together. THE
  ILLUMINATION OF the spirit of the male is a thin
  light, NAMELY, ONLY THE SIX EXTREMITIES WITHOUT
  THE HEAD. And the spirit of the female
  materializes in many ways and paths, BEING AN
  ENTIRE PARTZUF, HEAD, AND BODY, FOR IN THE
  KLIPAH, THE FEMALE IS LARGER THAN THE MALE. She
  cleaves to the spirit of the male, wearing ample
  jewelry like an abominable whore standing on main
  roads and pathways to seduce men.
• THIS TEACHES US THAT SHE VALUES ONLY THOSE WHO
  START WALKING THE PATH OF HASHEM AND ARE APT TO
  FALL INTO HER TRAP. THEREFORE, SHE IS VIEWED AS
  STANDING AT THE MAIN (LIT. 'START OF') ROAD TO
  HASHEM'S DEVOTION. BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
  ACCUSTOMED TO THE WAYS OF HASHEM, THE WHORE IS
  SEPARATED FROM THEM AND HAS NO POWER OVER THEM.

Los Vegas at Night
45
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 25. When a fool approaches her, she holds and
  kisses him, and she pours him wine full of dregs
  and snake's venom. After he drinks, he whores
  after her. When she sees him whoring after her
  and turning from the path of truth, she removes
  all the decorations she put on for that fool, AS
  WILL BE EXPLAINED.
• 26. Her seductive features include her hair,
  which is red as a rose, and her face, which is
  white and red. In her ears there are six earrings
  of Egyptian fabric. On her neck hang all the
  powers of Eastern lands. Her mouth is decorated
  by a small slit of a comely shape her tongue is
  sharp as a sword her speech as smooth as oil
  and her lips as beautiful and red as a rose.
  Wearing purple and having forty decorations less
  one, she is sweeter than all that is sweet in the
  world.

Vegas
46
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 27. The fool follows her, drinks of her wine, and
  fornicates with her. What does she do? She leaves
  him sleeping in his bed, goes up to denounce him,
  and receives permission TO KILL HIM. She then
  descends ON HIM. The fool awakes thinking of
  lusting after her, as before. At this point, she
  has taken off the decorations and has become a
  mighty oppressor who wears a garment of burning
  fire that causes great horror and frightens the
  body and soul. That oppressor has horrible eyes
  and a sharp sword on which there are bitter
  drops. The oppressor kills the fool and throws
  him into Gehenom.

Chicago Skyline
47
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 28. Ya'akov went down to her, TO THE WIFE OF
  HARLOTRY, and went to her place, as it is
  written "and went toward Charan," A PLACE OF
  WRATH AND JUDGMENTS. He saw all the decoration of
  her house there and was saved from her, AND SO HE
  RETURNED TO THE LAND OF YISRAEL. Her male,
  Samael, was vexed THAT HE WAS SAVED FROM HER. He
  came down to fight with him but to no avail, as
  it is written "and there wrestled a man with
  him..." (Beresheet 3225). Then was he saved from
  them all, completely perfected, and raised by a
  whole grade. And he was named Yisrael, WHICH
  CONSISTS OF THE LETTERS LI-ROSH (LIT. 'IT IS MY
  HEAD'). Wholly perfected, he became the middle
  pillar, of which it is written "And the middle
  bar..." (Shemot 2628).

New Orleans at Night
48
Samael and the wife of harlotry

• 28. Ya'akov went down to her, TO THE WIFE OF
  HARLOTRY, and went to her place, as it is
  written "and went toward Charan," A PLACE OF
  WRATH AND JUDGMENTS. He saw all the decoration of
  her house there and was saved from her, AND SO HE
  RETURNED TO THE LAND OF YISRAEL. Her male,
  Samael, was vexed THAT HE WAS SAVED FROM HER. He
  came down to fight with him but to no avail, as
  it is written "and there wrestled a man with
  him..." (Beresheet 3225). Then was he saved from
  them all, completely perfected, and raised by a
  whole grade. And he was named Yisrael, WHICH
  CONSISTS OF THE LETTERS LI-ROSH (LIT. 'IT IS MY
  HEAD'). Wholly perfected, he became the middle
  pillar, of which it is written "And the middle
  bar..." (Shemot 2628).

No Comment Required
49
Final Thoughts Ceaser
50
Jacobs Struggle with an Angel

• I view Jacobs struggle with an angel was nothing
  less then the struggle between Materialism and
  Spirituality. Its an inner struggle between Good
  and Evil.
• In last weeks sedra we learned that Jacob flees
  from the wrath of his brother Esau and goes to
  Charan. He arrives there destitute. He is without
  money, without a place to stay and without
  anything to eat. There he meets his uncle who
  takes him in and offers him a job with the
  provision that if Jacob does well and serves
  seven years in the employ of Lavan he would have
  earned the right to marry Rachel, Lavan's
  daughter.
• In a little more then seven years Jacob earns the
  right but marries Leah and then Rachel. For this
  Jacob has to promise to serve Lavan for an
  additional seven years. During this time he
  acquires two additional wives Bilhah and Zilpah.
  In the end he marries four women and has 12
  children in Charan, becomes fabulously wealthy
  and has everything that any man could ask for.

51
Jacobs Struggle with an Angel

• So why did he need to return to Canaan? In
  Canaan he faced the continued wrath of Esau and a
  life of economic uncertainty. He certainly
  doesn't need the money that his father may
  eventually give to him in the form of
  inheritance. Jacob must have been tempted to stay
  in Charan. Jacob is seeking something else and it
  this something else that requires him to leave.
• What Jacob is seeking is beyond the
  materialistic. He could have had all that he
  presently has and a lot more if he simply stayed
  in Charon. What Jacob is seeking is a connection
  to spirituality that he believes can only be
  found in Canaan.
• It is in Canaan where he leans with Shem and
  Eber. It is in Canaan that he sees the ladder
  reaching into heaven and angels ascending and
  descending to fulfill specific deeds. It is in
  Beth El that HaShem promises to give Jacob and
  his descendants the Land of Canaan. In short it
  is in Canaan where Jacob sees his chance to build
  a nation and to serve HaShem. This is what is
  driving Jacob.

52
Jacobs Struggle with an Angel

• The material wealth means little to Jacob. The
  struggle with the angel is as much an inner
  struggle between good and evil, materialism and
  spirituality. This is Jacobs greatest test and
  Jacob passes it with flying colors. For this
  Jacob earns the new name Israel.
• Are we able to do the same? Is our life in the
  material world of the West so much more important
  then our life in the service of HaShem? After
  more then eighteen centuries HaShem has granted
  us the opportunity to return to our ancestral
  homeland. He allowed us to rebuild our homeland
  and to settle again in the Land. The State of
  Israel is here and now. HaShem is calling us to
  come back home. So why are we still in Europe or
  in the Americas, Asia, Australia or Africa?
• For certain we have our problems in Israel. We
  have a government that that is only concerned
  about the materialistic benefits of being in
  office. But governments can change and you can be
  part of this change. May we change this nation
  from what it is to a nation that will try to keep
  the Torah Laws.

53
Jacobs Struggle with an Angel

• Tomorrow we once again celebrate HaShems creation
  of our Universe. Light a few candles, bake some
  Challah, make a nice kosher dinner. Get the kids
  cleaned up and put on something appropriate for
  Shabbat. Open a bottle of kosher wine and say a
  few blessings.
• Remember the Sabbath day and to keep it Holy.
  This is one Mitzvah that we all can do. Its not
  hard, but it is so important that the very coming
  of the Messiah is dependant upon this.

54
Jacobs Struggle with an Angel

• The Torah is not just the blueprint to creation
  it is also the road map to our Spiritual journey
  to come closer to the Creator.
• Our Prophets tell us that in the future, a great
  war of Gog and Magog will occur in which most of
  our material world will be destroyed.
• HaShem will keep His word and in spite of all
  odds, will send our Messiah who will save the
  Jewish People and once and for all times, bring
  Peace to Our People, so that we may at last serve
  Him.
• May it be Your Will, HaShem, that the Holy
  Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days and grant
  us our share in Your Torah.
• Shabbat Shalom