Power and Responsibility (Vayishlach)
VaYishlach: Power and Responsibility
Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Parashat Vayishlach draws us into one of the most human moments of the Torah, where family, fear, and forgiveness intertwine. Jacob and Esau, twins born into a fractured dynamic, carry the weight of a lifetime of betrayal, misunderstanding, and estrangement. Their childhood was shaped by parents who struggled with their love between two very different sons, leaving their children to wrestle for their place in the family and in the world. The Torah does not shy away from this complexity. Neither should we.
Jacob is afraid. He hears that his long-estranged brother Esau is approaching with 400 men, and the text captures his fear with a doubling of language: “He was greatly afraid and distressed” (Genesis 32:8). Why this doubling? Rashi, our great teacher, offers a piercing insight: Jacob feared both for his life and for what he might have to do to protect it. He was not only afraid of dying but also of becoming a killer. This is the tension of power — the burden of wielding it responsibly while never losing sight of our humanity.
Jacob’s fear is profound, and his actions reflect the weight of his predicament. He divides his family into two camps, reasoning that if one is attacked, the other might survive. This heartbreaking strategy reminds us that even our patriarchs were not immune to the terrors of vulnerability. It is a shattering image, and yet, it holds a mirror to our world today.
We see this dynamic echoed in Israel’s story. On this 431st day since October 7, we have witnessed profound courage and resilience, but also the inevitable fractures that arise in moments of crisis. Israel’s strength — its ability to fight for its survival while holding itself accountable — remains a testament to the vision of its founders. The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, once offered that “normalcy,” an explicit goal of most Zionist thinkers, meant that one day Jewish criminals would be judged by Jewish judges. This commitment to ethics and justice, even amidst external threats, is what distinguishes the moral fabric of our people.
And yet, as we wield power, we must remain vigilant. Rabbi Yitz Greenberg teaches us that, in the aftermath of the Shoah, the refusal to accept the responsibility of power is theological malpractice. Power is a tragic necessity, but it must be exercised with humility and restraint. The Torah’s portrayal of Jacob reminds us that fear of powerlessness and fear of power itself are two sides of the same coin. Both must be held in tension if we are to remain human.
Today, we fight for the return of our hostages, for the safety of Israel, and for the dignity of every person in the region. We are not powerless. Zionism was the rebirth of Jewish dignity, a refusal to accept powerlessness ever again. But woe to us if we grow too enamored with power. Woe to us if we forget that the purpose of power is not dominance but protection. Jacob’s transformation into Israel — a name that signifies struggle and resilience — teaches us this: true strength lies in wrestling with the moral complexities of our actions.
Let us pray for the courage to hold power responsibly, to reject powerlessness, and to retain our humanity in the face of great challenges. May we fight for life, dignity, and peace for all who dwell in our land and beyond. And may we, in the words of our sages, always strive to be human in a world that too often forgets what that means.