In this week’s portion, Yaakov returns from Charan and faces a confrontation with his brother Esav, who is conspiring to kill him over the blessings he took from him 22 years earlier. Yaakov sends a messenger to appease Esav upon his arrival in Israel; his aim in orchestrating the meeting was to give Esav one last chance to join him in the building of the Jewish nation. Although Esav refuses, he envies his brother’s achievements and is jealous that the Jewish people are destined to be built without his participation. This jealousy culminates in a struggle between them that will last throughout Jewish History and will reach resolution in the time of Mashiach. This class discusses the nature of the struggle and is based on the Meshech Chochma (by Rabbi Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk) and on Oznaim LaTorah (by Rabbi Zalman Sorotskin).
