פרשת וישלח

In this week’s parsha, Yaakov returns to Eretz Yisrael and prepares for confrontation with Esav. After so many years of exile, Yaakov hopes that his brother will finally put the feud behind them. However, after hearing that Esav is marching towards Yaakov’s camp accompanied by 400 men, Yaakov realizes that the prospect of peace is distant. Nonetheless, Yaakov puts his trust in G-d and proceeds, helping his family cross the Yabok River. Then the plot thickens. After the entire family successfully crosses, Yaakov remembers that a few tiny jugs were left behind on the other side of the river and goes back to fetch them. This decision sets the stage for the fight Yaakov would have with the divine being who, Chazal tell us, is Esav’s guiding angel. However, before Yaakov was even aware of the angel,the pasook points out a seemingly insignificant fact. “Yaakov remained alone.” Of course Yaakov was alone!! His entire family had just crossed over to the other side of the river! Furthermore, Yaakov was fighting an angel! By definition this war was clearly spiritual. Who else would be fighting the angel other than Yaakov?

Rav Gedalia Sherer teaches that when then the Torah tells us that Yaakov was alone it means that Yaakov was really alone. During the earlier challenges of Yaakov’s life, Hashem was always there to guide and protect him. What is more, Rav Sherer asserts that Yaakov felt Hashem’s presence so incessantly that he reached perfect clarity in his emuna, something that most people can only achieve in the World to Come. However, now Hashem left him and Yaakov experienced the pain of Hashem’s departure, affecting him deeply. Thusly, this battle presented a true test in emuna, especially since the angelic combatant was specifically sent to weaken Yaakov’s faith. Now that Yaakov felt the lack of Hashem’s presence, would he stumble in his faith or persevere and retain his exalted level of spirituality? Miraculously, Yaakov chose to trust in Hashem, thereby winning the battle with the angel. For this reason Yaakov received the name “Yisrael.” The Ramban in parshas Eikev adds that “Yisrael” comes from the Hebrew word “yashar,” meaning “straight,” and therefore can be interpreted as “one who goes directly to G-d.” Although Hashem created the illusion that He had left Yaakov to his own resources, Yaakov retained his conviction in Hashem. Most of us have ups and downs in our Yiddishkeit, especially in regards to emuna. However, Yaakov Avinu stands out as an example that even when we feel abandoned by Hashem and everything seems to be going wrong, the correct mode of behavior is never to despair. This is the time to fight.

Not only do we have an obligation to fight for our emuna especially when times are difficult -seeing Hashem through the darkness is actually the essence of emuna itself. There’s a famous debate between the Rambam and the Ramban as to whether belief in Hashem is a mitzvah or not. The Rambam lists emuna as the very first mitzvah in his Sefer HaMitzvos. However, the Ramban aggressively attacks the Rambam, arguing that belief in Hashem can’t possibly be a mitzvah in and of itself. A Torah Jew by default believes in Hashem! It is the foundation of all the mitzvos! There is no such thing as mitzvos without emuna in Hashem. So how can it be a mitzvah? It’s a given! The Slonimer Rebbe answers for the Rambam by explaining that believing in Hashem, even for one who keeps the Torah, is not always easy. Of course when everything is going great it’s easy to be a believer. The litmus test to determine whether someone is a true person of faith or not is when everything seems to be going wrong and Hashem seems to be absent. For one to struggle and learn to see Hashem’s hand in every situation is the actual mitzvah to which the Rambam is referring. This total belief in Hashem, sophisticated yet simplistic, is the real mitzvah of emuna. This was the true glory of the Jewish people throughout our long exile. It is during the darkest times that a Jew’s faith in Hashem clearly shines forth for the entire world to see. If we cling to Hashem and believe in Him even despite all our troubles, we can show the world what a Jew is all about.

There was once a childless couple who went to Rav Shimshon Pinchus for counsel and blessing. The couple had tried everything, but to no avail. They davened, went to doctors, read magazines, tried new drugs – anything in order to have a child. Rav Pinchus told the couple that they still hadn’t tried something very important. Did they ever cry out to Hashem and truly pour their hearts out, declaring their complete dependence on Him? Rav Pinchus recommended that the couple drive out to a forest or some other desolate location and scream out to Hashem for the child. Baruch Hashem, the couple took Rav Pinchus’ advice and was blessed with a child a short time later. Apparently, Hashem just was waiting for them to put their faith in Him.

May we all be zoche to see Hashem even in the darkest of times!!!