In Parshat Vayishlach, Yaakov was preparing to meet his brother Esav. In doing so, he had done three things: sent messengers with gifts, split his camp and prepared for battle and prayed to Hashem. Before Yaakov asked to be saved from Esav, in his tefillah to Hashem, he said, “I am small and you have shed kindness and truth upon me.” In this little part of Yaakov’s tefillah, we can learn two lessons in life.
Yaakov admitted that he was small and unworthy of God’s help. Moshe Rabbenu and David Hamelech later on followed in Yaakov’s footsteps and were able to do the same. Moshe was able to humble himself and ended up being the greatest Navi for the Jews. When he humbled himself after the Jews had sinned, he helped change Hashem’s decree of killing the Jews. In Tehillim (Psalms) 22, David Hamelech says that he is a worm, and those who humble themselves, Hashem will answer. First, David called out asking Hashem to answer and then he admitted to being nothing. He explained that all is from Hashem and then when he humbled himself, Hashem came to help. When we can humble ourselves and recognize that everything is from Hashem, our tefillot will be more powerful.
Secondly, Yaakov teaches us to count our blessings. He said to Hashem you have given me kindness and truth. Knowing what will happen to Yaakov, it seems that the worst has yet to come, but he didn’t know that and he says that Hashem has shown him kindness. What kindness? He was the youngest child. He had to make a deal to get the birthright. Then when he made the deal, he still had to act like his brother Esav so his father would bless him. His father didn’t love him as much as he loved Esav. He had to run away from home because his brother was going to kill him. He found the woman of his dreams and had to wait seven years for her. But wait! It was 14 years because he was tricked into marrying her older sister first. It took him forever to leave Lavan’s house, and now his brother is coming to attack. This is all so good? We may not have thought that this is all good but to Yaakov it was. He was able to see that Hashem was giving him a blessing and was able to see the truth of Hashem despite the pain he had gone through. May we all learn how to humble ourselves like Yaakov and be able to recognize that all Hashem does is kindness which will allow us to see all the blessings He has given us and will continue to give us.
Shira Sedek is a passionate educator currently working toward a master’s degree at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.
