After having crossed the Yabok River, Ya’acov prepared himself for prophesy by removing the physical, corporal outer layers of himself, so his soul would remain alone with the upper spiritual light. This is the meaning of “Ya’acov was left alone”[1] the name Ya’acov does not refer to his body, which is only his clothing, but rather, it refers to the inner Ya’acov, which is his soul.

Malbim explains that Ya’acov was able to remove all physical desires and strip off his body, until his essence (soul) remained alone. The “man [that] was wrestling with him”[2] refers to Ya’acov’s own physicality, which would not allow him to remove the corporal outer layer of himself. The “man” – his physical being – held on to him and tried to overcome him. The strength of his body – his physical forces were wrestling with Ya’acov – his spiritual forces, trying to prevent him from removing the manhood of his body. The Talmud teaches that the dust kicked up by Ya’acov and his opponent during their struggle reached up to the Throne of Glory,[3] meaning that it penetrated until the root of his Neshama, reaching all the way to the root of Emunah (faith). Ya’acov’s physical being – his yetzer hara represented by Esav’s angel, wanted to separate him from his root of Emunah. However, the power of evil was incapable of prevailing over Ya’acov, for he was able to overcome his physicality with the immense power of his soul.[4] Ya’acov’s struggle has far reaching significance for us today. The fact that it reached up to the Throne of Glory, can also signify the effect of that struggle on all future generations. The Throne of Glory represents G-d’s Providence, the guiding force in history. Ya’acov, was tested in all his limps, all his deeds, and all his spiritual powers. His victory empowers all of his seeds and the generations after him to prevail against evil in the world.

Sit comfortable in your chair, close your eyes and take deep breaths several times. Breathe deeply and feel completely relaxed in all of the limbs of the body. After several minutes of relaxing breathing, imagine you are standing by a river, visualize the clean water flowing down, see yourself in the mirror of the clear waters. What do you see? Notice that you are totally alone with yourself, surrounded by darkness.

ספר בראשית פרק לב (כה) וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּו

“And Ya’acov was left alone”[5] 

Get in touch with the feeling of being alone in your own skin. No pressures from outside, no distractions, nothing to conform to, no-one to try to please, just alone with yourself. You are לְבַדּ – alone. You are at one with your heart לֵב followed by the ד – the letter of humility that has nothing of her own. לְבַדּ Inhale לְ exhale בַדּ, repeat five times. Imagine your most beloved material possessions, your favorite outfit… your comfortable bed… your expensive pen… anything that you own, which you treasure. Imagine letting go of each of these possessions one by one as you breathe לְבַדּ Inhale לְ exhale בַדּ. Visualize yourself stripped of the outer layers of your stuff, just alone with your essence. Alone to the core, comfortable with yourself, not in need of anything. לְבַדּ – Inhale לְ exhale בַדּ, repeat five times. Alone with your essence, even beyond your body, let go of your worries about your health. Give them all up to Hashem and breathe into the knowledge that you have nothing. Its all Hashem’s even your body. Try giving it up to Him.

ספר בראשית פרק לב (כ) וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ 

“A man was wrestling with him”[6]

Tune into your own inner struggle. Remember one incident where your body and soul played tug of war. Your Neshama wanted so badly to do this particular mitzvah, but your body pulled you the other way, perhaps you didn’t want to spend all that money, or give away that precious possession, possibly your body was tired, lazy, didn’t feel like exerting and extending yourself. Imagine the glow of your soul as a bright ball of light, and enter your selfishness, laziness, tiredness etc. into this light-ball. Visualize how all of it is melting away, disintegrating, allowing your Neshama to get the upper hand. Yet, you still feel the struggle of yourself within yourself on a deeper level. The struggle to let go, and let G-d, the struggle to let go of what you have worked so hard to attain. Visualize that, which is dearest to you in this world, feel the pull. Get in touch with the pain of having to leave even this, and be alone, completely alone with your Neshama. לְבַדּ – Inhale לְ exhale בַדּ, repeat five times.

You may be slowed down but you are not overwhelmed; you persevere. יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael.

This name can also be read Yashar El, the one who G-d makes straight. יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael. The one who is straight to G-d. יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael. Inhale Yish – יִשְׂ, exhale rael רָאֵל, repeat five times. Breathe יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael, into your head – ראש, breathe יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael into any part of yourself which is tense, painful or tired. יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisrael. Feel invigorated, feel empowered, feel victorious. You have prevailed, “you have struggled with Divinity and Humanity and you have prevailed!”[7]

Bereishit 32:14-33 tells the story of Ya’acov preparing to face Esav by facing his own shadow side by the river. Before Ya’acov could confront Esav in person he had to confront the power of Esav which is hence his own yetzer hara, hence the general yetzer hara of the world, which is Esav’s angel. [8]After this encounter, Ya’acov receives a new name: Yisra El – the one who struggles with G-d. The same name can also mean “straight to G-d,” because through the struggle, he came face to face with Hashem. The struggle is the essence of the name Yisrael. The fate of the Jewish people is one of constant struggle. How do we derive the power to carry on these struggles? The Midrash states:[9] “There is none like G-d; yet who is like G-d? Yeshurun” – (Yisrael). Just as it is written of Hashem, “Hashem alone shall be exalted.”[10] So, too, “Ya’acov was left alone.”[11] Both Hashem and Israel have the ability of being alone. No outside power can affect Hashem, by adding to or subtracts from His Essence. Israel has the ability to emulate Hashem in this respect. When we know who we are, then nothing external, no problem or challenge, can stop us. With the inner strength of character, we can recognize that all external obstacles are just that – external. We know that even our failures are only in unessential matters. When our essence remains untouched, we stay strong.

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