CHAIN OF COMMAND
Adapted from Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky’s talk
In this week’s Parsha, Vayishlach, we find Yaakov having to wrestle with the angel of Eisov. The struggle lasts the entire night until the angel sees that he is unable to bring down Yaakov. In one final effort the angel succeeds in dislocating Yaakov’s thighbone. Although, Yaakov is recognized as the victor, he nevertheless suffers injury. What is the significance of this story and how is it relevant to us?
Our Sages teach us that the human body is divided into three parts. The first is the head which is directed by the mind, the second is the upper torso which is directed by the heart and the remainder of the body which is directed by the liver.
Each part has its role. The head, under the direction of the mind, analyzes, recognizes and decides how to deal with relationships and situations. The heart internalizes those decisions and understandings and executes them. It is for this reason that the heart is the control center of feelings, passion and drive implementing what the mind decides. The role of the lower segment is just to take care of the logistics. It should have no input at all in terms of decision making or execution.
Let us take a football team as a parallel. The owner/general manager make the decisions. The coach and the players implement those decisions. The secretaries and office staff handle the office work making sure everything runs smoothly. If these roles are mixed up the organization will suffer. Imagine if the office staff would carry influence with the general manager in his decision making. Similarly, we do not want the lower body to influence the heart and the mind in their decisions. We want that they simply take orders and carry out what the mind decides and what the heart executes.
Our Fathers, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov correspond to these three parts respectively. Avraham is identified as the great philosopher who through his searching discovered the Ribono Shel Olom. Avraham gave direction to our people based on his understanding and his relationship with HaShem. Yitzchok who represents avoda, actually served HaShem with his entire being corresponds to the heart. Finally, Yaakov who implements that which Avraham and Yitzchok generated corresponds to the lower part. With Yaakov the Jewish people should have acquired an imbedded nature to carry out the mission of our people as a second nature. Just like the liver secretes the necessary bile as the food enters the digestive system without deviating from its job, so too, our people should automatically carry out the mission of our people with no deviation.
Unfortunately, history has shown that we do not always carry out our mission as intended. There are times when we seem to behave like the office staff who fall out of their role.
The reason for this shortfall was the encounter with the angel of Eisov. Initially the angel attempted to topple Yaakov entirely but was unsuccessful. Yaakov remained steadfast in his understanding and relationship of HaShem, in his commitment to serve HaShem and in his role of implementing all of the above. As the night was coming to a close the angel successfully disjointed Yaakov’s thighbone. The result of this was that now Yaakov’s feet did not automatically go in the direction that they were programmed. Now the direction of Yaakov required special attention with each and every step. Although Yaakov remained steadfast in his commitment he was nevertheless vulnerable with every step he made.
So often we hear inspiring speeches or experience inspiring trips which move us to alter our ways. Within a short time, however, we find lose that inspiration and fall back on old habits. We may vividly remember what we experienced, nevertheless, our feet drag along and do not seem willing to carry out what we learnt and what we felt. This was the impact Eisov’s angel had on Yaakov. Our thighbone was somewhat dislocated and we must therefore struggle consciously to move our feet forward.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind