"The dust of their feet went up to the Divine Throne". (Chullin 91a)
Midrash tells us that all Yaakov's gifts came as a result of this "dust." Furthermore, all the "gifts that Yisrael would gain in this world," "all the success they would have in business," "all the success they would have in battles" – all of it is "in the merit of Yaakov's dust"!
Who was the mysterious "man" that wrestled with Yaakov? He was the guardian angel of Esav. (Rashi, Zohar, different Midrashim — see also Hoshea 12:4-5) Yaakov's wrestling with him all night symbolizes the struggle with materialism and evil that he and his descendants would have from this time forth during the night of "exile". (Ramban and Bachya on our chapter)
Read more: The Dust of History
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Parashat Vayishlach
Vayishlach Pardes
Vayishlach Haftarah
Vayishlach
