The Weekly Shtikle - Vayishlach

First, my sincerest apologies for failing to send out a shtikle last week. I meant to dedicate it to my nephew, Yeshaya Shonek, whose Bar Mitzvah I was attending. So this week will have to do.

The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my Opa, Tovia Yehudah ben Yoel, a'h.

 When Yaakov learns that Eisav is coming to meet him with 400 men, he expresses great fear as stated (32:8) "vayira Yaakov me'od vayeitzer lo." There are various suggestions given as to the exact definition of the word vayeitzer. The predominant interpretation seems to be that it is from the same root as tzar, implying that Yaakov was stressed.

 I suggest that perhaps this word is from the root of the word yeitzer which comes from the same root as tzurah, a form. While the body is the physical form of the human being, the yeitzer, both the yeitzer tov and the yeitzer hara, is the spiritual form of the human being. Yaakov's yeitzer, his spiritual form, was one that directly opposed killing and violence, unlike his brother Eisav. Rashi interprets vayeizter that Yaakov was worried that might have to kill others. Fitting that in with this interpretation, Yaakov was troubled that he would now have to engage in that which his yeitzer diametrically opposes. Thus, vayeitzer means that his yeitzer was being bothered.

Have a good Shabbos.

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:
Dikdukian: The Great Dishon Confusion

AstroTorah: The Satanic Strategy of Scorpius by R' Ari Storch (It has to do with the parsha, trust me.)

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