5784/2023

In this week’s Parashah, Parashat VaYishlach, Yaakov Avinu is left alone at night where he fights tirelessly with a Malach. Interestingly, Chazal says that this angel was the Saro Shel Esav, meaning that he was Esav’s ministering angel and represented him in Shamayim. However, Yaakov does not leave unscathed and the Passuk describes that the Malach struck Yaakov in the Gid HaNasheh, the sciatic nerve. As a result, Bnei Yisrael is commanded not to eat the Gid HaNasheh. But what is the significance of Gid HaNasheh so much so, that we are forbidden to eat it? Also, how can we learn from this experience and apply it today?

Rav Schachter quotes Radak who says that Yaakov's struggles with the angel teach us the principle that although the nations of the world have been interested in annihilating Klal Yisrael for centuries, we will always prevail. Even if sometimes that victory will come in a damaged or injured state, we will survive and continue to spread light throughout the world. Although we have recently experienced one of the greatest tragedies in modern times and we Daven for every single hostage to be released, ultimately we survived the initial attack and will continue to survive forever. This is because Klal Yisrael is LeMa’ala Min HaTeva and forces of nature can never penetrate us. The Issur of Gid HaNasheh ingrains with us the belief in the idea that Bnei Yisrael is truly LeMa’ala Min HaTeva. Just as the Passuk in Yeshayahu (43:21) states: ׳׳עַם־זוּ֙ יָצַ֣רְתִּי לִ֔י תְּהִלָּתִ֖י יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׳׳, “Bnei Yisrael are a separate nation created specifically for Hashem”. 

Similarly, the most common question this time of year is why Chanukah is eight days if there was enough oil for the first day, so in theory, Chanukah should only be seven days? 

The Maharal explains that all forces of nature in the world revolve around the number seven: 7 days of the week, 7 years in the Shemitta cycle, 7 colors in the color wheel, 7 notes on the music scale, 7 Mitzvot Bnei Noach, and so forth. Seven represents nature and at the end of seven, you return to the beginning of the cycle with one. However, the number eight is LeMa’ala Min HaTeva and that is why the Mitzvah of Brit Milah is performed on the eighth day. Eight does not exist in nature and represents that which is above nature like as Klal Yisrael. The Greeks tried to make us ordinary by having us forget the Torah but the חשמונהים came and eradicated them. So too, the word for oil in Hebrew is שמן which is the same root as the word eight. Oil allows us to rise above nature and connect to HaKadosh Baruch Hu on a higher level. This is why Chanukah is specifically eight days because the story of Chanukah goes directly above the laws of nature that oil meant for one day could last over a week. Bnei Yisrael cannot be impacted by nature and we will therefore live on forever. As Mark Twain wrote in the late 19th century: “All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains” (Mark Twain :“Concerning the Jews”). Even an antisemite such as Twain could recognize the uniqueness of Klal Yisrael that laws of nature do not apply to us and our survival is inevitable, despite everyone who wants to kill us. Yaakov Avinu displayed this victory many years ago and the Chashmonaim did the same after him, and Be’Ezrat Hashem just as we beat Esav in battle once, we will do it again today.