It would be easy for us if life was perfect and every avenue of our lives was problem free , but we all know that this is not a reality . Yet , there is that place in our hearts where we still yearn for eutopia or Tikkun Olam , where all of our dreams will one day come true ! Yet the truth still remains , our human existence is full of pain , where our path is full of bumpy roads and unsuspecting potholes . Yet through it all we still reach for hatikvah ( hope ), but why ? I believe Parashah Vayishlach and specifically Genesis 32 provides the answer !
If any one of us were to take the time to examine Jacob ’ s life , we would find the example of struggle . Prior to his birth , Gen . 25:22 notes that Jacob and his brother Esau “… fought with each other inside [ Rebecca ’ s ] so much that she said , ‘ if it ' s going to be like this , why go on living ’…”. ( CJB ) This foreshadowed them in life where rivalry and tension marked every aspect of their relationship , and even affects us to this day . This is best seen in the context of inheritance , and the promise of current and future blessings as Jacob convinces Esau in Gen 25:30-33 , to sell him his birthright , in as Esau demands ,
“ Give me a swallow of that red stuff ! I ’ m famished ! … ‘ First sell me your birthright ,’ replied Jacob . ‘ Here I am about to die ! exclaimed Esau , ‘ What good is a birthright to me ?’ ‘ Make an oath to me right now ,’ said Jacob . He made the oath and sold his birthright to Jacob .”
( The Living Torah , trans . Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan )
In reading this passage , we are further reminded of the promise God made to Rebecca ,
“ There are two nations in your womb . From birth they will be two rival peoples . One of these people will be stronger than the other , and the older will serve the younger .” ( Gen . 2523 , CJB )
Certainly , Jacob ’ s life with relationship to his brother was marked by struggle . This is now especially true when considering “ Esau ”, as we collectively and individually try to process the massacre of October 7th and the war in Israel against Hamas . Even with regards to the time of tribulation , we are reminded of Jacob ’ s trouble , where the Prophet Jeremiah declares ,
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