Parshas Vayishlach (5771)

Bs”d

Parshas Vayishlach (5771)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our parsha, when Yaakov was informed that Esav’s army was approaching he immediately split up his camps, preparing the escape; then he was mispalel.  Shouldn’t the tefila come first?  Rashi (32:9) explains that “preparing for warfare” is manifested in splitting the camps for escape.  How is running away preparing for warfare?

The Vilna Gaon explains that in the war that Klal Yisroel conducted in conquering Eretz Yisroel they used their swords against the enemy not by physical combat but rather by just pointing to them and thinking all kinds of tefilos.  It would follow that Yaakov Avinu who was on a much higher level fighting with Esav would do the same, even without the swords.  But having to make some hishtadlus it was manifested in the most subtle way possible, just by preparing for escape.  This explains why it preceded tefila, since it demonstrated the epitome of bitachon.

We should all be worthy of closeness to Hashem and to fulfill His Will.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.