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Friend or Foe
As we mentioned in earlier Parsha thoughts, the DNA of the Jewish people was created through the lives and events of Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov and their wives, the fathers and mothers of our people. No matter how close we zoom-in on those events with all the minor details they will reflect the course that Jewish history takes. With that in mind let us take a look at this week's Parsha, Vayishlach, which takes us to the scene where Yaakov meets his brother Eisov as he returns home from Uncle Lavon.
When Yaakov learns that Eisov is coming to meet him and has 400 armed men with him the Torah tells us; "And Yaakov was afraid and it was painful to him..." We must ask what is meant with this seemingly redundant expression, being afraid and being pained. As we look further along in Yaakov's reaction to the news of Eisov's approach we find Yaakov pleading to HaShem "Save me from the hand my brother from the hand of Eisov". Once again we are struck with a redundant expression. Yaakov has only one brother why does he plead that HaShem protect him from the hand of his brother and again from the hand of Eisov. It seems to indicate that there are two hands from whom Yaakov needs protection, the hand of a brother and the hand of an Eisov. This would perhaps also explain the two expressions of fear, one describing fear of one hand and the second describing the fear of the other hand.
Eisov is dedicated to destroy Yaakov no matter what approach needs to be taken. There are two approaches to accomplish this malicious mission. One approach is to actually capture Yaakov and take him to the gas chambers; to literally kill him. The other approach is to destroy him from the spiritual side; namely, to grab his relationship with HaShem and shake him away from it. Although the latter method requires a show of friendship towards Yaakov and perhaps even respect for Yaakov's beliefs, nevertheless, it is a worthy undertaking for Eisov considering that in return for that friendship and respect Yaakov will slowly drift away from HaShem and Eisov will no longer have to deal with a Yaakov. In other words, Eisov understands well that Yaakov's very existence is dependent upon his relationship with HaShem and his adherence to HaShem's Torah. Once that bond is loosened Yaakov's existence begins to unravel.
When Yaakov learns that Eisov is coming towards him with an army of 400 trained men he understands that Eisov is still dedicated to destroying him. He therefore turns to HaShem to protect him from the hand of Eisov; the hand that is overtly and openly dedicated to the physical destruction of Yaakov. However, Yaakov has a greater concern; he is afraid of the hand of his brother. The danger of Eisov's outstretched hand of brotherhood and friendship is more lethal. Yaakov therefore pleads with HaShem to also protect him from the hand of his brother; from the hand of friendship that Eisov will offer him and the influence that Eisov will have over Yaakov's family and future generations. Eisov's warm expressions of friendship cover his true intentions of destruction thereby making him so much more dangerous. Without HaShem's special protection we become swallowed up in the quicksand of assimilation like every other nation that becomes absorbed into a foreign country.
As we read the Parsha we notice that Eisov in fact attempts to implement both approaches in his meeting with Yaakov. Eisov's initial approach is to come with a fully armed military. However, when that fails Eisov suggests to Yaakov, "let us travel and walk together, I will walk in sync with you." The meaning of walking in sync is that while Eisov was not tied down with small children and could therefore walk at a faster pace, he offered Yaakov to walk at Yaakov's slower pace in order to keep up with Yaakov and remain close to him. Behold! The very person who came with an army to destroy Yaakov becomes his best friend, his best brother! Eisov is even willing to change his own way of walking in order to accommodate a friendship with Yaakov.
As we look back at Jewish history we find how accurate the Torah was in charting this course. The Talmud identifies our current exile which began with the Roman Empire up to our current date, as the period that corresponds to Yaakov's interaction with Eisov. In the early days of that interaction (some 2,000 years ago, there was no expression of friendship. We went from one country that tried to physically annihilate us to the next country that attempted the same. We nevertheless persevered; HaShem protected us from destruction. We may have suffered many casualties but we survived. As the exile continued Eisov changed his approach. He became more civilized and even adopted many Jewish notions such as concepts of monotheism and caring about other people. He even adopted the notion of taking one day off in a week as a holy day among other Jewish ideas. Eisov changed his manner of walking so much so that today's culture is said to be uphold Judeo-Christian values. This word is so striking because it identifies Yaakov and Eisov as one unit, as one culture; as one.
It is from this hand of brotherhood that Yaakov pleaded with HaShem to grant him protection. As the barriers that distinguish Yaakov from Eisov melt away in the Judeo-Christian society so does the integrity and distinction of the Jewish people melt away. While the Germans succeeded in their Eisov approach to destroy 6,000,000 of our people, America's outstretched hand of brotherhood, warmth and respect continues to wipe more than that number. Today in Baltimore there is even a Jewish house of worship that is shared with a Christian house of worship, one day Yaakov and the next day Eisov!
While we are confident that HaShem will protect His people from extinction as He always has, we must nevertheless, be concerned about all those who will not survive the onslaught.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
