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Vayishlach (2025)

Parshat Vayishlach

Dvar Torah
Parshat Vayishlach opens with th dramatic and long-awaited confrontation between Yaakov and his brother Esav. Decades earlier, Esav had sworn to kill Jacob, and now he approaches with an army of four hundred men. In response, Jacob sends “melachim”—messengers—to Esav along with lavish gifts to placate his anger.

Rashi notes something striking: melachim here should be interpreted literally—angels, not human messengers. Even as Esav advances with troops, Yaakov is preceded by a heavenly vanguard. Divine protection is real and present.

Yet despite this spiritual backing, Yaakov refuses to rely solely on miracles. Our sages emphasize that he prepares himself in three ways:

  • Tefillah – turning to Hashem in prayer
  • Doron – engaging in diplomacy with gifts
  • Milchamah – preparing tactically for the possibility of war.

Yaakov teaches a profound lesson: the physical and the spiritual must work hand in hand. Divine help does not exempt us from human effort. Our sages tell us, “Ein somchin al ha-nes”—we are forbidden to rely on miracles—yet at the same time we are urged to pray for them. Judaism asks us to live in both worlds at once: to build, to plan, to act responsibly in the physical realm, while simultaneously recognizing everything ultimately flows from the metaphysical.

Our challenge in the spirit of our forefather Jacob, is to weave these two dimensions together—to engage the physical world with all our strength while anchoring our actions in faith, prayer, and trust in Hashem.

Shabbat Shalom!




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