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Vayishlach And Yaakov sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Eisav ..The messengers returned to Ya'akov with the report: "We came to your brother Eisav and he is also heading towards you. He has 400 men with him." Ya'akov was very frightened and distressed. He divided the people .. Ya'akov prayed ... he selected a tribute for his brother from what he had with him. Ya'akov was distressed by the fact that he was frightened. The story is told about a simple righteous man who slept in the open without fear. When he was asked how he did it he answered, "I am ashamed to fear anything as my fear of Hashem is not yet present." Why was Ya'akov frightened? Explains the Midrash Rabbah: Ya'akov said, "All these years Eisav was resident in Eretz Yisroel, perhaps he will come against me with the merit of being a resident and desiring the Land." Ya'akov had been in the house of Lovon, his idol worshipping uncle, for more than 20 years. Yet, Ya'akov states about himself that he fulfilled the entire Torah and all its Laws. Why then should he be frightened by Eisav's fulfilment of the this one Mitzvah of dwelling in Eretz Yisroel? We must say that the dwelling in Eretz Yisroel is comparable to the fulfilment of all the other mitzvos. Perhaps one could explain: Ya'akov was frightened not simply about his immediate safety rather he was concerned about the long term safety of his children and their descendants. Eretz Yisroel responds positively towards those who desire it and show that they value it. Ya'akov was concerned that Eisav's display of greater attachment to the Land would give him rights to it. For this reason the Torah emphasises that Eisav acquired his land in the mountains of Seir and not in our holy Land. Rashi comments: Ya'akov prepared himself with three things; tribute, prayer and war. If the prayer would not help, of what help could the tribute and the battle preparations be? Rather Ya'akov prayed that his preparations of tribute and battle would be successful in preventing a conflict. Ya'akov teaches here the lesson, success even by the most natural method must have with it an element of prayers. In truth, listed is a fourth item. Ya'akov prepared himself. He was not just going to rely on an ad hoc response. First and foremost Ya'akov prepared himself. Ya'akov remained behind alone. A stranger [appeared and] wrestled with him until just before daybreak. If Ya'akov remains alone without support of his family, he will always end up in danger. I am unworthy from all the kindness and the truth which you have done for your servant.... Explains the Chozeh of Lublin, "Even that which I am small in my own eyes, is a present from Hashem." Others explain, "I appreciate my own unworthiness due to all the kindness which I have extended to others." This verse is the eighth verse of the Parsha which is the eighth parsha in the book of Bereshis. This may be a reference to the statement in the Gemorra that a scholar is permitted an eighth of an eighth measure of arrogance. So much and no more, after that bit we must continue by saying "I am unworthy..." I heard in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that he was upset that so many scholars were poor mathematicians. They do not realise that an eighth of an eighth is less than one. R' Meir of Kobrin was warm and welcoming to all. If he was being hurt by others he would suffer in silence and never respond in kind. Once his Chasidim asked, "Rebbe, the Rabbis tell us that every Talmid Chacham who does not take revenge and retribution is not a true Talmid Chacham, so why do you act the way you do?" Answered R' Meir, "The reason is simple, When I come to next world and am judged for persecuting someone unjustly, what should I say? - that I'm a Talmid Chocham! What if they disagree? If on the other hand I do not take revenge in this world and they wish to judge me for not having done so, I could always protest, I did not know I was truly a Talmid Chocham. R' Noach of Kobrin would say, "Why is a human referred to as a 'small world'? Because if he regards himself as small, he is a world. If he regards himself as the world, he is small. R. Simcha Bunim of Pshischa would say, "When a humble person removes pride from his heart, the resulting space is filled with love for Hashem |
