Yaakov Preparing for War

Found 6 Search results

1. Yaakov Struggles

   Rabbi Alex Israel | 37 minutes

   Traditional explanations of Yaakov’s preparation for his meeting with Esav shows that Yaakov, who is terrified, is anticipating war. The subsequent meeting, however, is brotherly, even joyous, with no indication of obvious hostility. If Esav is so loving, why is Yaakov afraid? And what is the meaning of the mysterious fight in the night, which has semantic echoes in Yaakov’s daytime words to Esav? There seems to be evidence of a character transformation—but of whom?

2. Yaakov's Efforts and Preparations for Meeting Esav

   Rabbi David Silverberg

3. Rav Cherlow on Yaakov's Preparations to Meet Esav

   Rabbi David Silverberg

4. Yaakov's Concern About Violence

   Rabbi David Silverberg

5. Yaakov's Staff

   Rabbi David Silverberg

6. I Have Become Two Camps

   Rabbi Yair Kahn | 19 minutes

   Yaakov prays and recalls God’s promise, saying "God’s hessed is so great because I crossed the Jordan with my staff and have now become two camps". But this statement is odd- isn’t the reason that Yaakov became two camps is because Yaakov feared Esav? Perhaps now, after splitting his camps out of fear, he is able to realize how much he had and how great God’s hessed had been. However, this answer should be understood at a deeper level.  By looking at Yaakov's mission, journey, and time with Lavan, we can better appreciate his appreciation of God's hessed: when Yaakov returns to the Land of Israel, he not only has fulfilled his father's mission, but also begins to become a "community of nations."