OU TORAH Vayishlach: From Yaakov to Yisrael – Part 1 By Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Was Eisav really planning to wipe out Yaakov’s family with his four hundred men? Or was his intention all along simply to welcome his brother back ‘home’? When reading Parshat Vayishlach, it is difficult to reach a clear conclusion. Similarly, when Yaakov crossed the Yabok River (with his wives and children), was he planning a secret escape from this confrontation? Or, was Yaakov’s intention all along to confront his brother – face to face? And finally, was God’s purpose in sending a ‘mal’ach’ to struggle with Yaakov – simply to bless him at this critical time, or was it an attempt to thwart Yaakov’s planned ‘escape’? When one reads Parshat Vayishlach, it is difficult to find precise answers to these (and many other) questions. In Part One of this week’s shiur, we’ll suggest some answers to these questions, while offering a reason why the Torah’s account of these events is intentionally so vague. Based on that analysis, Part Two will discuss the deeper meaning of Yaakov’s name change to Yisrael.