Parshas VaYishlach (5761)

Bs”d

Parshas VaYishlach (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our Parsha we have the awesome, frightening rendezvous of Yaakov Avinu and his hate laden revengeful, all-powerful brother, Esav.  Esav made a strong commitment to destroy; the concern of a pending catastrophe was real.  However, Yaakov and his family came through this terrifying ordeal unharmed.  What caused the change in Esav’s wicked program?  Could it have possibly been (32:15) “The she goats and the he goats; the ewes and the rams”.  Did the years and years of his bursting with boiling venom disappear with the gift of “nursing camels and their young; the cows and the bulls”?  Can the terrible animosity dissipate with the “she donkeys and the he donkeys”?  Something tremendous and awesome, yet subtle and unassuming, transpired; where and what was it?

The Pasuk (33:3) relates that Yaakov bowed to Esav seven times.  His sons, the shvatim, also bowed and were looked upon by Hashem with dissatisfaction for this act.  Yet, strangely enough, Yaakov Avinu was not criticized.

The sefer Nefesh HaChayim (shaar 3:!2) states that by establishing and concentrating in one’s heart the principle of the supremacy of HaShem, that there is nothing in the world with any intrinsic significance except HaShem and His power, one can unshackle himself from any potential threat of danger.  The power and strength of this protection is in correlation to the strength of one’s ability to focus on this thought.

The Vilna Gaon explains that the success of Queen Esther was due to the control she exercised over Achashverosh by concetrating on this principle.  While appearing to appease the king and appealing for his pity, her mind was involved in concentrating on “ein od milvado”.  HaShem is the Supreme Ruler, He is everywhere and controls everything.  “You Achashverosh don’t have any real power or existence”.  She was actually exercising control over him, which was determined by the intensity of her ability to focus on this true realization.

The extreme difficulty with this is quite evident.  It is the paradox of seeming to be concerned and obligated to the “physical”, and simultaneously giving it no significance in your mind.

We can now venture to say that when Yaakov Avinu appeared to be bowing down to Esav, his true focus was on “ein od Milvado”—Hashem the Supreme Ruler.  Yaakov was in actuality “wrestling” with Esav and subduing him under his control with these thoughts.  Amazing, as Rash quotes (33:4) “R’ Shimon ben Yochai declared—it is a fact that Esav hates Yaakov.  However, that moment his pity was aroused and he kissed Yaakov with all his heart”.  That was some control that Yaakov exercised!

When saying “HaShem Echad” twice daily in Shma Yisroel, we are in essence engaging in this mental activity of “ein od milvado”.  Who knows how many miracles happen to us because of this.