Parshas Vayishlach: Establishing Priorities
Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig
After Yaakov Avinu parts ways with his brother, Esav, the Torah relates: ויעקב נסע סכּתה ויבן לו בּית ולמקנהו עשׂה סכּת על כּן קרא שׁם המקום סכּות. “And Yaakov traveled to Sukkos and he built himself a house, and for his cattle he made Sukkos (huts), therefore he called the place Sukkos” (Bereishis 33:17). I would like to address three questions about this Pasuk:
It seems unusual to name the place after the huts he built for his cattle. If he built a house for himself, and garages for his cars, would he have named the place “Garages?” Why did he choose this name? What is the Torah trying to teach us?
The Gemara (Megillah 17a) relates that for the years Yaakov was separated from his parents, and thus unable to honor them, he was punished by being separated from Yosef for the same amount of time (not including the time he studied in Yeshiva). Why did he tarry for one and a half years at Sukkos, thus delaying his arrival and increasing the years for which he was later punished?
The Tur relates that each of the Shalosh Regalim corresponds with one of the Avos. He explains that Sukkos corresponds with Yaakov Avinu, based on the above pasuk: “ולמקנהו עשׂה סכּת.” What is the connection between Yaakov Avinu and the Yom Tov of Sukkos, and why is it being related specifically over here?
R’ Mattisyahu Salomon Shlita explains: Earlier in the Parsha (32:25) it says, “Vayivaser Yaakov levado…” Yaakov remained alone and struggled with the Sar (Heavenly manifestation) of Esav. The Gemara (Chullin 91a) relates that he was alone because he went back to retrieve some small jugs which he had left behind. This teaches us that for Tzaddikim (who earn their money honestly), their money is more precious to them than their bodies. R’ Chaim Vital explains that they understand that if Hashem granted them something, it’s for a purpose which can’t be overlooked. It was specifically when Yaakov went back to retrieve these jugs that he had his struggle with the Sar of Esav. When the Sar saw that Yaakov was pursuing mundane physical things, he attempted to use the opportunity to show that Yaakov uses the physical world for his own pleasure the same way Esav does. His inability to overtake Yaakov was because Yaakov used the physical world only as a means to enhance his Avodas Hashem. The Sar then touched Yaakov’s thigh, showing that future generations would stumble and indulge in physical pleasures merely to enjoy them. When that happens, Esav gains the upper hand. Realizing this, as soon as Yaakov took leave of Esav, he went directly to Sukkos. He built temporary dwelling places for his belongings, and the “house” he built for himself, explains the Targum Yonasan, was a Bais Hamedrash. Yaakov was teaching his descendants that everything we have in this world is temporary. Our permanent focus should be in the Bais Hamedrash and the spiritual realm. This is the message of the Yom Tov of Sukkos, which Yaakov established even before the Mitzvah was given.
