The "Ish" in Each of Us

 

What do you think of when you hear the word "wrestling?" 

I must confess that I associate wrestling with the entertainment variety. That’s the one that everyone says is “fake” or entertainment. I grew up in the era of the World Wrestling Federation and personalities like Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter. Parshat Vayishlach tells the story of the first wrestling match in history, the “main event” between Yaakov and…

With whom exactly is Yaakov wrestling?

"Va-yivateir Yaakov levado va-yei’aveik ish imo – Jacob remained alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” (Bereishit 32:25)

Who was this ish?

Rabbi Ari Kahn, a senior lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, addresses this and a number of other issues in this story. One answer is that Yaakov fought against the angel of Esav. Another suggestion is that Yaakov was fighting against himself. If Yaakov was alone, though, with whom was he wrestling?  Why would a sane person wrestle with himself?

Rabbi Kahn notes that there is another, less enigmatic “ish” in an earlier verse:

“The man (ish) prospered exceedingly and he possessed great herds and maids and servants and camels and donkeys.” (Bereishit 30:43)

This “ish” is clearly Yaakov. He is successful and prosperous. The blessings he received, which had initially been meant for Esav, have come to fruition. Yaakov has "made it". He has completed a metamorphosis from being a “man sitting in the tent” to becoming a successful entrepreneur.  

Yet Yaakov struggles with his success. As he prepares to meet his brother, he is left alone. Yaakov looks at all the wealth which he has accumulated, and he questions his identity. “Is this who I am really meant to be? Might I have become too much like Esav?” All night long, Yaakov’s spiritual self and his physical self wrestle with each other as he tries to determine his true identity. In the end, Yaakov prevails, but he is injured. He receives a new name, Yisrael, and he limps away. From this point on, Jews do not eat the hip tendon (gid ha-nasheh) of the animal to remember this battle.

Rabbi Kahn writes: “In the resolution that is finally achieved, the physical realm is forced to yield. Laws, like that of the hip tendon will create spiritual boundaries within the physical experience, making possible the elevation of the physical world to a spiritual plane. This is Yaakov's resolution – and a resolution for us, his descendants. Yaakov may look like Esav, but he is now Yisrael, the name which speaks of his relationship with the physical and spiritual realms.”

This battle continues within each of us.

The upcoming Chanukah holiday is an appropriate time to remember the struggle. It is a holiday with a spiritual message of the light that shone due to the miracle of the oil. At the same time, Chanukah commemorates a battle of ideas and cultures, Judaism and Hellenism. The Jews fought the Greeks, but they also fought with each other over how much outside influence can be allowed in. The struggle continues today. We are incredibly blessed with rich Jewish lives in the middle of an incredible modern society that, at times, challenges our Jewish identities. There is a struggle.

Embrace the struggle. Elevate the struggle. It is right in the middle of this disequilibrium that our future will be won. 

How will we transmit passion to our children?

What should I be studying that will fortify my Jewish commitment?

How can I respond to the turbulent times?

How can we ensure our commitment to the Jewish people and Israel can transcend our many disagreements?

How can I make a difference in a world where the volume is louder and common ground is getting smaller?

I don’t know, but let’s get ready to rumble!