(2008/5769)

At the beginning of the Parasha Yaakov prepares to greet Eisav by doing three things: praying to Hashem, sending messengers to Eisav, and dividing his family into two camps.  As part of his prayer, he states, “Ki VeMakli Avarti Et HaYardein Hazeh VeAtah Hayiti LeShenei Machanot,” “Because with my staff, I crossed this Jordan River, and now I have become two camps” (BeReishit 32:11).  This statement seems out of place in this prayer after all what does his salvation have to with the fact that he crossed the Jordan River?

Rashi explains that Yaakov is not saying that he used his staff to cross the river, but rather that he crossed the river with only his staff, without money or livestock.  The Ba’al HaTurim disagrees and maintains that Yaakov did not even have a staff with him as he crossed the Jordan.  The Ba’al HaTurim arrives at this conclusion by looking at the Gematria or numerical equivalency of “BeMakli,” which is 182, equivalent to the Gematria of Yaakov, implying that Yaakov’s body crossed the Jordan without anything else, including his staff.

Another explanation of Rashi is that Yaakov is describing the manner in which he crossed: he placed his staff in the waters and they split.  Yaakov’s prayer is thanking Hashem for the miracle He previously performed, similar to the Berachah of Modim in our Shemoneh Esrei.  The Siftei Chachamim uses this explanation to explain the part of the Pasuk referring to two camps. Yaakov is thanking Hashem for two things.  First, for helping him cross the Jordan River; second, for giving him two camps.

Finally, the Ba’al HaTurim offers a second understanding.  He explains that Yaakov is davening for his descendants.  Yaakov is asking that in his merit, his descendants, while leaving Galut, be able to cross the Jordan River into Eretz Yisrael, just like he himself crossed. Yaakov wants this to be carried out through the principle of Ma'aseh Avot Siman LaBanim, where one generation’s actions correspond to those of future generations.  May we merit a fulfillment of Yaakov’s prayer, and be gathered into Eretz Yisrael from Galut, BeMeheirah BeYameinu.