Torah Portion – Vayislach (Sent) Genesis 32:3-36:43 - By Daniel Gwertzman

This Torah reading begins with Jacob sending messengers to his brother Esau. He sent them to tell him that he has oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. He is troubled and greatly frightened when he learns Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men.

His response to this threat informs us how we should deal with a threat, and how to conduct diplomacy. The first thing one must do if there is danger of an attack is to divide the people, the flocks, the herds and the camels. If one company is attacked, the other which is left can escape. The other thing which must be done is to call out to the Lord for protection and deliverance. Finally, send a gift to your enemy which might appease him. He also puts space between each drove of animals sent to Esau. Thus, Jacobs's gift to Esau would provide breathing space between a nation and the force threatening it.

That very night he struggles with the Angel of Esau, who ended up blessing him and giving him the name Israel. "He said, Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed". (Genesis 32:28)

Jacob then has a successful meeting with his brother. He journeys on to Shechem where his daughter Dinah is raped. Her brothers then take revenge for this crime and destroy the city.

Jacob then journeys on to Bethel and makes an altar unto God, who answered him in the days of his distress and who has been with him wherever he has gone. There, God promised him that a nation and a company of nations would come from him. Kings would descend from him, and he would be given the land promised to Abraham and Isaac, and after him, to his descendants.

After this, Rachel gives birth to his son, and she then dies. He names him Benjamin. Rachel is buried on the way to Bethlehem. His father Isaac dies at the age of 180 years, and is buried by his sons Esau and Jacob.

Then, this is followed by the genealogy of the descendants of Esau, and that they were the Chiefs of Edom.