PARSHAS VAYISHLACH

Rabbi Avraham Brandwein of Yerushalayim 5764

In our Parsha, it tells of Yaakov Avinu who returns from Charan to the Land of Israel, together with his wives and children. On the way, he sends messengers to Aisav, to appease him, so that he should not kill him, as it is written at the end of Parshas Toldos, that his mother, Rivka, told him to flee to Charan, since Aisav his brother wants to kill him, since he took the blessings from him. It is written in Rashi that Yaakov prepared himself for three things, for giving a gift, for prayer, and for war. The same idea we find in the service of Yom Kippur of the High Priest, that there were two goats. One goat was a sacrifice to Hashem and the other goat was the “scapegoat” to Azazel. It is written in the Holy Zohar that this scapegoat is a gift to the Sitra Achora (the Other Side), to not prosecute against the Nation of Israel. After the sacrificing of the goat, the High Priest then prayed for the Nation of Israel. It is further written in the Holy Zohar that at each meal one should give a portion to the Sitra Achora, and this is the idea of washing Mayim Acharonim (the last waters before grace after meals).

The practical lesson, which we should learn from this, is that it is necessary to fight against the forces of evil. However, the victory will only be if (the forces of evil) get their share. For example, a person cannot just be busy with the study of Torah or doing acts of kindness and fulfill the Mitzvos, without eating or sleeping. Since a person was created with a nature of having been created with a material body, therefore, they are obligated to give it its share, then they can study Torah and perform Mitzvos. The same thing is that if a person would say I do not want to benefit from anything, but just to fulfill the Mitzvos, which is the Will of the Creator, certainly they cannot do so. Rather, one should give the necessary share to the physical body. This is like the portion given to the Sitra Achora, which is represented by Aisav, then the Evil will leave them alone to fulfill the Mitzvos. So too if one wants to wage war with the Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination) in their human body, they need to give it a gift, which is the basic share that the body needs. Afterwards, one needs to wage war with Yetzer Hara and to overcome it. Nevertheless, we need prayer, since without help from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, we cannot overcome the Yetzer Hara within us. This is as the Sages of blessed memory say, “If Hashem would not help him, he would not be able to overcome the Yetzer Hara.” This is because the soul’s powers must come from Heaven, since a person is created in a physical body. This is what is said, “Yaakov prepared himself for three things, for giving a gift, for prayer, and for war.