{"id":38693,"date":"2018-08-26T12:30:43","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T09:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=38693"},"modified":"2022-03-20T23:44:42","modified_gmt":"2022-03-20T21:44:42","slug":"just-what-sort-of-wrestling-was-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/just-what-sort-of-wrestling-was-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Just What Sort of Wrestling Was This?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cAnd a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn\u201d (Genesis 32:25). \u00a0This image has become a foundational image and symbol for the Jewish people. Loneliness, the mysterious enemy, the struggle at dawn and the break of day. Let us look at one phrase: \u201che wrestled.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

This is what Rashi wrote about it: \u201cMenahem ben Saruk (the author of the first biblical dictionary in Hebrew) interpreted: A man became covered with dirt, meaning dust, because they were kicking up dust with their feet as a result of their movement (while wrestling). \u00a0To me, however, it seems that it stems from the word \u2018he attached himself to,\u2019 and that \u2018he wrestled\u2019 is of Aramaic origin related to the word \u201cjoin with loops.\u201d For it is the way of two who wrestle for one person to throw the other down, and then he grasps him (embraces him) and entwines him in his arms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rembrandt in his painting \u201cJacob Wrestling the Angel\u201d (1659) follows the interpretation of Rashi, but goes one step further. \u00a0Look at the picture and you will see: The figures appear not as wrestling with one another, but as embracing each other, and the angel looks like a woman, and the embrace takes on a new meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

The struggle of the embrace leads me to thoughts about the struggle. Some see the struggle as belonging to the field of violent war, to the field of evil, to the desire to find a winner and defeat the enemy. But in the tradition of the sages, the struggle, and especially the struggle of differing opinions, is the closest connection and embrace between one person and another:<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba said: \u201cEven a parent and child, a rabbi and disciple, \u00a0who are engaged in Torah together in one gate become enemies with each other due to the intensity of their studies. But they do not leave there until they love each other, as it is stated in the verse discussing the places the Jewish people engaged in battle in the wilderness: \u201cTherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, Vahev in Suphah [<\/span>beSufa<\/span><\/em>], and the valleys of Arnon\u201d (Numbers 21:14). The word \u201c<\/span>vahev<\/span><\/em>\u201d is interpreted as related to the word for love, <\/span>ahava<\/span><\/em>. Additionally, do not read this as \u201cin Suphah [<\/span>beSufa<\/span><\/em>]\u201d; rather, read it as \u201cat its end [<\/span>besofa<\/span><\/em>],\u201di.e., at the conclusion of their dispute they are beloved to each other.. [Talmud Kiddushin 40b]<\/span><\/p>\n

Speech that emphasizes diversity is a struggle. \u00a0A fight in which there is truth to be fought is an embrace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cover image: Rembrandt, <\/span>Jacob Wrestling With the Angel,<\/span><\/i> [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":38694,"id":38694,"title":"Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project","filename":"Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/just-what-sort-of-wrestling-was-this\/rembrandt_-_jacob_wrestling_with_the_angel_-_google_art_project\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"rembrandt_-_jacob_wrestling_with_the_angel_-_google_art_project","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":38693,"date":"2018-08-26 09:28:49","modified":"2022-03-20 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