Vayishlach: Chapter 6

"Let me go, for the day breaks"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda begins this discussion by quoting the verse, "who is she that looks out like the dawn ..." to describe the process of raising the children of Yisrael out of Exile. This redemption, we are told, shall be accomplished gradually, as an illumination that increases measure by measure. This is matched by a decrease in the illumination and strength of Esau, until Esau is completely destroyed. After the children of Yisrael are raised from Exile, they will wonder with sorrow at all they endured, just as, at daybreak, Jacob was filled with pain and sorrow for what he suffered in his struggle with Esau.

Relevance

Spiritual development arouses goodness and Light in our lives, but not through the pursuit of fulfillment or the search for happiness. Rather, it is achieved through the work of confronting our internal demons and negative traits. These dark forces are like a curtain dimming and blocking the Light. As we peruse these verses, the negative forces are diminished, the curtain gradually opens, and the Light of Creation illuminates our lives.

Astrology Banners Directions Exile Gates Light Moon Sun

90. "And he said, 'Let me go, for the day breaks.' And he said, 'I will not let you go, unless you bless me'" (Beresheet 32:27). Rabbi Yehuda quoted the verse, "Who is she that looks out like the dawn, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" (Shir Hashirim 6:10). Although this verse has been taught, "Who is she that looks," refers to Yisrael, at the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise them and bring them out of exile. He will first open a tiny, very thin aperture of light for them. Then HE WILL OPEN FOR THEM a slightly larger opening, until the Holy One, blessed be He, opens wide the supernal gates of the four directions of the world.

90. וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׁחַר וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ כִּי אִם בֵּרַכְתָּנִי. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָלוֹת. הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמָר, אֲבָל מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה, אִלֵּין אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּזִמְנָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יוֹקִים לוֹן, וְיָפֵיק מִן גָּלוּתָא, כְּדֵין יִפְתַּח לוֹן פִּתְחָא דִּנְהוֹרָא, דַּקִּיק זְעֵיר, וּלְבָתַר פִּתְחָא אַחֲרִינָא, דְּאִיהוּ רַב מִינֵיהּ, עַד דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִפְתַּח לוֹן תַּרְעִין עִלָּאִין, פְּתִיחִין לְאַרְבַּע רוּחֵי עָלְמָא.

Light Redemption and Salvation Righteous

91. Everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, does to Yisrael and the righteous among them is done in this way, TO ACHIEVE REDEMPTION LITTLE BY LITTLE instead of all at once. THIS IS SIMILAR TO a person who always dwells in the dark. To give him light, first we should shine upon him a small light, thin as a needle, and then a slightly stronger one, and so on until full light shines upon him.

91. וְכֵן כָּל מַה דְּעָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְצַדִּיקַיָיא דִּי בְהוֹ, הָכֵי כֻּלְּהוּ, וְלָאו בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא. לְבַּר נָשׁ דְּאִתְיְהִיב בַּחֲשׁוֹכָא, וְדִיּוּרֵיהּ הֲוָה בַּחֲשׁוֹכָא תָּדִיר, כַּד יִבְעוּן לְאַנְהָרָא לֵיהּ, בַּעְיָין לְאִפְתְּחָא לֵיהּ נְהוֹרָא זְעֵירְתָּא, כְּעֵינָא דְּמַחֲטָא, וּלְבָתַר רַב מִנֵּיהּ, וּכְדֵין בְּכָל זִמְנָא, עַד דְּיִנְהֲרוּן לֵיהּ כָּל נְהוֹרָא, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Esau Light World to Come, The

92. This is true for Yisrael, as it is written, "Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you be increased" (Shemot 23:30). It is also true for a man who is recuperating. He does not recover all at once, but becomes well little by little. This is not so for Esau, for he received illumination at one time, and it was lost to him little by little, and will continue until the children of Yisrael become stronger and wipe him from this world and the World to Come. Because AT FIRST, light shone on him instantly, he was completely destroyed. However, the light of the people of Yisrael shines brighter, little by little, until they are strong. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, will shine on them forever.

92. כָּךְ אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר מְעַט מְעַט אֲגָרֲשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה וגו.' וְכֵן לְמַאן דְּאָתֵי אַסְוָותָא, לָאו אִיהוּ בְּשַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, אֶלָּא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר, עַד דְּיִתְתַּקַּף. אֲבָל לְעֵשָׂו, לָאו הָכֵי, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא חָדָא נָהֵיר לֵיהּ, וְאִתְאֲבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ זְעֵיר זְעֵיר, עַד דְּיִתְתַּקְפוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, וִישֵׁיצוּן לֵיהּ מִכֹּלָּא, מֵעַלְמָא דֵין וּמֵעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי. וּבְגִין דְּנָהֵיר בְּשַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, הֲוָה לֵיהּ שֵׁצִיאוּ מִכֹּלָּא. אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, נְהוֹרָא דִלְהוֹן זְעֵיר זְעֵיר, עַד דְּיִתְתַּקְפוּן, וְיַנְהֵיר לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעָלְמִין.

Astrology Banners Darkness Light Moon Morning Strength Sun

93. Everyone asked about them, as it is written, "Who is she that looks out like the dawn?" THE DAWN (HEB. SHACHAR, FROM SHACHOR, MEANING 'BLACK') refers to the early morning, NAMELY, TO THE DARKNESS THAT GROWS STRONGER BEFORE MORNING LIGHT. It is the thinnest light MENTIONED. Then, "fair as the moon," because the light of the moon is stronger than that of dawn. Then, she is "clear as the sun," whose light is stronger even than that of the moon. And finally, she is as "terrible as an army with banners," WHICH MEANS that her light has reached full strength.

93. וְכֹלָּא שָׁאֲלֵי לוֹן וְאָמְרֵי, מִי זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָא כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר, אִיהוּ קַדְרוּתָא דְצַפְרָא, וְדָא אִיהוּ נְהוֹרָא דָּקִיק. וּלְבָתַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה, בְּגִין דְּסִיהֲרָא, נְהוֹרָא דִילָהּ נָהֵיר יַתִּיר מִשַּׁחַר. וּלְבָתַר בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה, בְּגִין דִּנְהוֹרֵיהּ, תַּקִּיף וְנָהִיר יַתִּיר מִסִּיהֲרָא. וּלְבָתַר אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָלוֹת, תַּקִּיפָא בִּנְהוֹרָא תַּקִּיף, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Astrology Banners Congregation Light Moon Morning Strength Sun

94. Come and behold, in the early morning, it is dark and the light is concealed. Then, the morning begins to light up. It shines little by little until the light reaches its full strength. Similarly, the Holy One, blessed be He, will shine on the Congregation of Yisrael. First He will shine like the dawn, which is black, then "fair as the moon," and later, "clear as the sun." Eventually He will shine "terrible as an army with banners."

94. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּעוֹד דְּאִתְחֲשַׁךְ יְמָמָא, וְאִתְכַּסְיָא נְהוֹרָא, וְאָתֵי צַפְרָא, יִתְנְהֵר בְּקַדְמֵיתָא זְעֵיר זְעֵיר, עַד דְּיִתְרַבֵּי נְהוֹרָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, דְּהָא כֵּיוָן דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִתְעַר לְאַנְהָרָא לָהּ לִכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִתְנְהֵיר בְּקַדְמֵיתָא כְּמוֹ שָׁחַר, דְאִיהִי אוּכְמָא, וּלְבָתַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה, וּלְבָתַר בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה. וּלְבָתַר אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלוֹת, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר.

Esau Jacob

95. Come and behold, IT IS LITERALLY WRITTEN that "dawn has gone up," rather than 'day breaks.' This is because when dawn comes, the minister OF ESAU grows stronger and attacks Jacob. This act enables Esau to recover and grow stronger.

95. וְתָא חֲזֵי, כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּלֵק צַפְרָא, דְּהָא לָא כְתִיב כִּי בָא הַשָּׂחַר, אֶלָּא כִּי עָלָה, דְּהָא בְּזִמְנָא כִּי בָא הַשָּׁחַר, כְּדֵין אִתְתַּקַּף הַהוּא מְמַנָּא, וְאַכֵּישׁ לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא מְמַנָּא אַכֵּישׁ לְיַעֲקֹב, לְמֵיהַב תַּקִּיפוּ לְאִתַתַּקָּפָא לְעֵשָׂו.

Darkness Jacob Light Peniel Sun Thigh

96. But as the darkness of dawn emerges, the light comes and Jacob becomes stronger, for it is his time to shine, as it is written, "And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he limped upon his thigh" (Beresheet 32:32). Thus, "the sun rose upon him," because it was the time to shine.

96. וְכַד סָלֵיק הַהוּא אוּכְמָא דְּשָׁחַר, אָתָא נְהוֹרָא, וְאִתְתַּקַּף יַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא כְדֵין מָטָא זִמְנֵיהּ לְאִתְנְהָרָא, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָבַר אֶת פְּנוּאֵל וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ. וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, דְּהָא כְּדֵין זִמְנָא לְאִתְנָהָרָא.

Evil Exile Heart Suffering Sun Thigh

97. The verse, "and he limped upon his thigh," alludes to the fact that as long as the children of Yisrael are in exile, they suffer pain, sorrow, and evil mishaps. However, as soon as day breaks after they have rested, they will look back with sorrow in their hearts on all the afflictions and pain they have suffered, and they will wonder about them. Therefore THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "the sun rose upon him," NAMELY, THE SUN of the time of rest, when "he limped upon his thigh," WHICH MEANS THAT he was filled with pain and sorrow for what he had suffered.

97. וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ. כְּדֵין אִיהוּ רֶמֶז, דְּהָא בְּעוֹד דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגָלוּתָא, וְסָבְלִין כְּאֵבִין וְצַעֲרִין, וְכַמָּה בִּישִׁין, כַּד אִתְנְהֵיר לוֹן יְמָמָא, וְיֵיתֵי לוֹן נַיְיחָא, כְּדֵין יִסְתַּכְּלוּן, וְיִכְאֲבוּן בְּגַרְמַיְיהוּ, מִכַּמָּה בִּישִׁין וְצַעֲרִין, דְּסָבְלוּ, וְיִתְמְהוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין כָּךְ וַיִּזְרַח לוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. דְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְנַיְיחָא, וּכְדֵין וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ, אִתְכָּאַב וְצָעֵיר גַּרְמֵיהּ, עַל מַה דַּעֲבַר.

98. When dawn rose, JACOB grew stronger and seized him, for the strength OF THE ANGEL failed, since he is only powerful at night, while Jacob rules during the day. Therefore it is written, "And he said, 'Let me go, for the day breaks,'" and I am in your hands. This we have already learned.

98. וְאִיהוּ כַּד אִסְתַּלַּק קַדְרוּתָא דְּשַׁחֲרָא, כְּדֵין אִתְתַּקַּף וְאִתְאֲחֵיד בֵּיהּ, דְּכַד אִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילֵיהּ, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא אֶלָּא בְּלֵילְיָא, וְיַעֲקֹב שָׁלְטָנוּתֵיהּ בִּימָמָא. וְעַל דָּא אֲמַר, וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְחֵנִי כִּי עָלָה הַשָּׂחַר, דְּהָא אֲנָא בִּרְשׁוּתְךָ קָאִימְנָא, וְהָא אִתְּמָר וְאוֹקְמוּהָ.

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