Midreshet Amit

• LIVE TORAH:
• Academic Program
• Yimei Iyun
• FAQ
• Recent Shiurim
• View by Parsha
• View By Chag
• Search Database
• Ask the Rav

In this week’s parsha we read about Yaakov and his fight with the angel who is really the saro shel Eisav or the Satan. This fight represents the eternal struggle of the Jewish people with their enemies. In the battle Yaakov gets injured on his hip.

We learn from here about the issur of eating the gid hanasheh, the sciatic nerve of an animal.

The Sefer HaChinuch in explaining the Mitzvah of Gid Hanasheh uses this idea to explain the significance of this Mitzvah for all generations. He explains that Gid HaNasheh is a symbol to remind us that even though as we go through the galut we suffer many trials and tribulations and we are hurt by our enemies, there will always be a continuation of the Jewish People.

Right before the battle with the angel the pasuk tells us that Yaakov was alone, “Vayivasser Yaakov Levado” Yaakov was left alone. Besides being physically alone for the battle, it represents the aloneness of the Jewish people throughout history. “Am Levadad Yishkon” A nation that dwells alone.

But this sense of being alone is not cause for sadness or fear. It is through the uniqueness and oneness of the Jewish people that we can draw our greatest strength. When we go to battle with the outside world which the Jews have done throughout our history, either physically or spiritually we must find our strength in the uniqueness that we have as a nation of God. The fact that we are different is what will sustain us.

Our natural tendency in life is to try to fit in but we learn a great lesson from Yaakov that we must sometimes stand alone and go against the tide. Then Hashem will bless us just as He blessed Yaakov that He would always watch over him even when things got difficult.
May we always remember our uniqueness as a nation and embrace it so that we may be zocheh to have Hashem watch over us and all of Klal Yisrael.