Noah Kanter, age 8, led Sunday School services on Dec 11,2011. He is the youngest member of our Sunday School to lead services and give a D’var Torah.
Jacob realized he’s close to where Esau lives. He thinks Esau is still angry with him. Jacob sends his men to give Esau a message saying he was sorry for all he had done to him. The men returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming with an army of 400 men.
Fearing for his family’s lives, he sends servants to Esau with gifts. These gifts included all different types of cattle.
During the night, Jacob wrestled with an angel that represented Esau. He won the fight, and G-d gave Jacob a new name: Israel. Israel means “he who wins over the divine.”
In the morning, Jacob could see Esau’s army. When the brothers met, Jacob learned Esau was not angry with him anymore. Jacob still insisted Esau take the gifts. That was when they stopped fighting.
When Isaac, their father, died, Jacob and Esau buried him – together.
This portion teaches us that although my brother and I don’t always get along and sometimes fight, we will forgive each other and make up with one another. We do not need gifts to do it, either!