Shabbat Shalom November 19-20, 2010

Parashat Vayishlach
Cantor Phil Baron

Last week Rabbi Steinberg wrote about the Bible’s tendency to present opposing points of view. In examining Rachel’s dilemma in parashat Vayeitsei the rabbi very clearly pointed out the Bible’s many opinions on Rachel’s conception of motherhood and womanhood. In reading his argument I wondered: Is the Bible asking us to consider many sides of an issue, or is it making a statement about ambivalence as a natural part of living? What happens when strongly divergent feelings and impulses reside within one person?
In the very next parasha, Vayishlach, Jacob literally tackles that question. He is on his way to a final confrontation with his brother Esau. The night before, he is alone and is assaulted by a strange “man” whom he engages in what might be called an epic “smackdown,” a wrestling match of cosmic proportions. His opponent, as it turns out, is hunkier than Hulk Hogan, grungier than Goldberg. He is, in fact, a celestial being, probably with super powers. Yet he can’t defeat Jacob. What’s going on here? Isn’t this the Jacob who runs from confrontation – the mama’s boy who survives by wit, not muscle?
We know that Jacob, despite his cunning and business acumen is no warrior -- that’s his brother Esau. Jacob got the brains. So how does he win a split decision with Iron Man?
There’s no sports section in the Bible, no box scores, no blow-by-blow, just a few verses devoted to the match. But we do know some important details. The story begins in Genesis 32:23. “That same night he arose and taking his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven children, he crossed the ford of the Jabbock.” A neat trick in the middle of the night! I know that if I woke my kids and my two wives (okay, I only have one) up in the middle of the night and asked them to cross a river, I’d also find myself in a fight to the death. What was Jacob’s hurry?
Jacob schleps his family and all their belongings across the river in the dark. The great Jewish scholar Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman says “He made them pass the brook.” I’ll bet he did. The parasha continues, “After taking them across the stream, he sent across all his possessions.”(Gen. 32:24) So he makes the mishpacha cross the river, goes back to the other side, sends his processions along, and remains there alone, waiting.
This reminds me of the scene in countless cowboy movies where the sheriff says to the townspeople “lock up the women-folk and young’ns, there’s gonna be some shootin’and some dyin’!” Gary Cooper knows what’s coming, and so does Jacob. And like the sheriff in “High Noon,” Jacob is controlling the situation.
Jacob knows he needs to have it out once and for all to bring peace to his family. So he waits there in the dark for The Incredible Hulk. Yes, I’ve now given away the real identity of the “man” or angel with whom Jacob tangles. It’s the big hairy monster whose secret identity is mild-mannered Bruce Banner. The Green Guy is a pretty good metaphor for the “Hulk” that lives in Jacob. He has to master the conniving, weak and disloyal creature that lives within himself before he has the strength to face Esau -- to face his own guilt. He can’t really cross the river Jabbock (a Biblical pun on the name Jacob?) until he’s conquered his past, cleaned the slate, and become ready to make peace with his brother and himself, or to die trying.
As descendents of Jacob, we benefit from the realization that his greatness came not only from his leadership of others, but from his willingness to conquer and control his greatest adversary -- himself.

Shabbat Shalom.