I was overwhelmed with all the posts on Shalom Aleichem that I received in response to my invitation. I spent so much time responding to emails, posting, editing etc. that I barely had time to write anything this week. I was thrilled to receive so many beautiful insights into a song that so many take for granted, but I was also distracted. I am far from the best time-manager. (Busy-itis)

Jacob used numbers in this week’s portion to overwhelm his brother, Esau. He sent a huge number of gifts, many enough to distract anyone other than Esau who liked having too many things. (Yesh li kol) Jacob went one step further: He positioned the gifts in parcels so that Esau would meet one of Jacob’s representatives laden with gifts, and ask, “What are all these things?” The planned response was, “They are gifts to you Esau from your servant Jacob.” Every mile or two, Esau would find more gifts.

Jacob used this strategy to make Esau feel that there were more and more gifts coming his way. He wanted to diffuse his brother’s hatred and anger with an overwhelming number and presentation of gifts. It worked.

Jacob even divided his camp into two, not only to protect half of his possessions, but also to create an image of having more: “Now I have enough for two camps!”

Jacob certainly appreciated the pure “Numbers Strategy.” The Midrash describes Esau’s angel as using Jacob’s strategy against him: Jacob was alone at the side of the river and a man said, “Can you please help me with these few things?” Jacob, being the gentleman he was, readily agreed. He helped the man carry some things across the river only to hear, “I have a few more things. Can you help me with those as well?” Well, a gentleman is a gentleman, and Jacob agreed. Until this happened over and over and Jacob realized that he had spent most of the night being distracted by numbers!

“Pharmakos, pharmakos! What are you doing to me?” Jacob didn’t wrestle with the man-angel, he wrestled with numbers and distractions.

It’s interesting to note that immediately after the “match,” Jacob brought his two camps back together. (Rabbeinu Avraham ben HaRambam)

The angel had one lesson for Jacob: “Yes, your strategy of overwhelming numbers and distractions is effective. But a distraction is just that; a distraction. Become “Israel,” the person who can directly and courageously confront every issue.”

Jacob listened. He combined the two camps and stepped forward to deal directly with Esau. He became Israel in the process.

I can look back at my week and complain about distractions, self-imposed as they were, or, I can choose to acknowledge that I must confront my issues head-on, and become an Israel.

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.