Wrestling Into Blessing

At the beginning of this week's Torah portion, Vayishlach, Jacob sends messengers to his estranged brother, Esau, whom he has not seen in twenty years. Esau is approaching Jacob and his family with a large assembly of men, and Jacob, having fled Esau’s rage from being deceived by his younger twin brother, is frightened. The night before he is to reunite with his brother, Jacob finds himself alone, wrestling with an unknown figure. The figure says, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking.” And Jacob answers, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” The figure asks, “What is your name?” He replies, “Jacob.” The figure says, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:27-29)

Many interpret Jacob as wrestling with a messenger of the Divine, an angel. But Rambam, a 12th century rabbi and philosopher, argued that it is impossible to wrestle with an angel, and explained the encounter as a dream or holy vision. Jacob being asked what his name is by the figure is not merely a set up to announce his new name as Israel. Rather, Jacob is not only wrestling with a divine being but also with his inner self. Jacob’s words, asking the figure to bless him, harken back to Parashat Toldot, where he tricked Esau, claiming the blessing of the first born for himself. “‘Have you but one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!’ And Esau wept aloud.” (Genesis 27:38) Jacob needs to decide if he is still the Jacob of his youth, who will deceive and hurt his brother for his own personal gain? Or is he ready to grow into the adult that he is, a person of conscience, and take on this new name, Israel?

It is written in a Hasidic tale, “In every age, God addresses every person with the question ‘where are you in your world? Already so many of your allotted years and days have passed. How far have you come in your world?’” This call from the Divine is a call to be self-aware, so that we too can ask ourselves who we are, “What is the name I have made for myself, and what is the name I am capable of achieving? Am I where I want to be in my world?” To live our lives authentically as the people we are meant to be, we must heed the questions that we ask of ourselves. Wrestling with ourselves is akin to wrestling with the Divine. In doing so we are capable of living honest lives filled with growth and introspection. Growing into ourselves and answering the questions of “Who am I? Where am I in my world?” is one of the greatest blessings we have as human beings.

Shabbat shalom,

Eden Anolick, Rabbinic Intern