The 5 Books Meander, Week 8 (Va-Yishlaḥ)

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In brief:
Jacob journeys back to Esau, worried, aware of the weight of what he’s done, seeking to make amends.

Along the way, he wrestles with a mysterious figure and comes away with a limp to remind him of the struggle. These struggles, they leave their mark.

The mysterious figure names Jacob “Israel,” but it doesn’t stick for even a sentence. Seriously, the book goes like (paraphrasing): “‘OK Jacob, you are now Israel'” and then: “‘Thanks!'” says Jacob.” It borderline feels like a burn on the mysterious figure, whose naming powers are clearly so-so.

Esau, far from the wolfman I remembered from childhood, is just about the most genuine and sweethearted (albeit hairy) person imaginable, particularly given how he was raised by a family of, let’s face it, tricksters. And in a beautiful scene of reunion, forgiveness, and some pretty fierce brotherly hugging, we can’t help but start to like Jacob too.

The story shifts quickly, though, as we learn of the rape of Dinah by Shechem. Her brothers Simeon and Levi slaughter Shechem and his townsmen and take their women and children captive. There is no waiting for divine judgment. Vengeance is theirs.

In the third section, God names Jacob “Israel,” and this time (yes!) it takes. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, and the coldness of her midwife’s words still kind of haunt me: “Have no fear, for it is another boy for you,” the midwife says … Two sentences later, Rachel is dead.

With all this, it was honestly a relief when the text turned to full-on family tree mode, and we learned about several people who gave birth to many more people. Phew!

A couple of thoughts:

  • By far the highlight of the week for me was learning what “Israel” means — something I really should have learned or at least wondered about, you know, a few decades ago. It turns out it means: “wrestles with God,” or at least that’s one of the translations. And holy cow does that resonate with me as a description for what it means to be Jewish, and how we go through this life, if we choose to go through it with faith. And perhaps this is true for all, or most people of faith. But what a powerful thing for the Book itself to codify. To be an Israelite is to wrestle with God.
  • As for devoting a whole section to the family tree? Before I started reading these weekly portions, I thought of these sorts of passages as filler — as some (honestly) goofy connective tissue. But as you flip through the pages, you start to get the feeling that these sections are at the heart of the Torah — knowing who and where you come from. Meeting the family and hearing their stories. And finding a place for yourself in those stories, among all the millions of stars and the many grains of sand.

    • If you’d like to join in… this is the place for comments and commentary on Va-Yishlaḥ (Gen 32.4 – 36.43)

    Next up: Va-Yeshev (Gen 37.1 – 40.23)
    -Cecil

    1 thought on “The 5 Books Meander, Week 8 (Va-Yishlaḥ)”

    1. Jacobs prayer to God when he hears his brother is coming -with basically an army- is, to me , an example of how we should pray in midst of fear and uncertainty in this life. Lay out your situation, all you’ve done wrong, mistakes you’ve made, your fears and doubts, and remember what the Lord has done in the past, his promises, his kindness and faithfulness. It may not change the situation but it may change your perspective.

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