Parshat VaYiShlach

In Parshat VaYiShlach, Yaakov prepares himself for his upcoming meeting with Eisav. This was the same Eisav who had been chasing Yaakov to kill him. The Torah talks about Yaakov’s three-pronged plan of preparation; prayer, gifts, and battle. In Yaakov’s prayer (32:12), Yaakov asks of Hashem, “HaTzileini Na MiYad Achi MiYad Eisav,” save me please from my brother from Eisav. The Beis HaLevi points out the obvious redundancy. Once Yaakov asks Hashem to dave him from his brother, we know that is talking about Eisav! What’s the deal?

The Beis HaLevi answers that Yaakov understood that there were 2 different dangers. Eisav represents the threat of war and physical destruction. My brother represents the threat of friendship and assimilation. Yaakov feared both. He had no interest in trying to be friends with Eisav, he wanted to be left alone.

We find this idea later on in the Parsha as well. The Pasuk (33:18) says, “VaYiChan Et Pnei HaIr,” and he encamped in front of the city. The Midrash comments that it was Friday afternoon and Yaakov made an Eiruv Techumin. A similar Midrash says that Avraham Avinu kept the entire Torah before it was given, even Eiruv Tavshilin. The Meshech Chochma comments that these two Eiruvin give us insight into the character of Avraham and Yaakov. An Eiruv Tavshilin represents having guests. The Gemara (Beitza 21a) explains that an Eiruv Tavshilin only works because since guests may come the food is considered to be for Yom Tov. This is Avraham Avinu, looking for guests and looking outward. Yaakov though is looking inward. He knows that he is raising the Shvatim who are the future of Am Yisrael. Therefore, he must decide how to engage with the world. Yaakov makes an Eiruv Techumim, he sets boundaries, he says I will go no further.

There is no coincidence that this idea comes to us just a short while before Chanuka. It is on chanuka when we remember how the Jewish people lost their balance. They Hellenized almost to the point of disrepair. If I weren’t for the few Chasidim and the Maccabees who stood up to maintain the balance, we would have been spiritually extinct.

No doubt, there is a delicate balance as to what we let in and what we don’t let in from the outside world. Every body must decide for their family and themselves as to what the boundaries are. The task is to strike that balance between the Midah of Avraham Avinu and the Midah of Yaakov. As MiChanchim we and our students' must help our students strike this balance.