In the Torah's recount of the fight between the Yaakov and the Saroi Shel Esav, the Torah says "וירא כי לא יכול לו ויגע בכף ירך יעקב... בהאבקו עמו’’
"and he (the Celestial Officer of Esav) saw that he cannot overcome him (Yaakov avinu) so he touches him in the Gid Hanosheh.... While he is fighting. There seems to be a contradiction in Mashma'us between "וירא כי לא יכול לו", which sounds like it was at the end of the fight as a last resort but very INTENTIONAL, while "בהאבקו עמו" sounds like it just happened DURING the fight UNINTENTIONALLY.
So which is it??!!
(the question is not So strong, but the Yesod is important!)
Maybe: בהאבקו עמו is not referring to WHEN he hit Yaakov, but WHAT he hit him WITH! what MARK did it leave on Yaakov Avinu and by extension, each of us? בהאבקו עמו!!!! He hit us in the "ירך" which can refer to the male organ(like we find the use of the word שים נא ידך תחת ירכי). The Bruise that he left us with is the Constant battle in this area of our lives! He hit us with a hit of בהאבקו עמו, a CONSTANT BATTLE WITH HIM!! of Constantly fighting for Shmiras Habris! of using this great power that Hashem gave us not as an Esav but as a Yaakov!! To live a life of Kedusha, of Chessed for others, not just self-centered and self-fulfilling!!
The Malach then tells Yaakov: "לא יקרא עוד שמך יעקב כי אם ישראל... כי שרית ..... ותוכל" Your name isnt Yaakov anymore, but Yiseroel because you fought... and you overcame.
The classic question is: Malach should have called Yaakov תוכל/Overcomer, Not Yisroel which means Fighter? he didn't just fight he won?!?
(there are many BEAUTIFUL answers out there!)
Maybe the Malach was changing His name to Yisroel/Fighter because that's what He, and ALL OF HIS DESCENDANTS now became: FIGHTERS! בהאבקו עמו!!! In constant battle with our Yetzer Haras!
We must know though, this itself is what makes us Yidden! what makes us Yisroel!
May Hashem help us to realize that we are not "damaged goods" because of this challenge, we are not disgusting because of this challenge, WE ARE YISROEL!! Yisroel Asher Bicho Espo'ahr!!! Who Hashem takes Nachas from!!
Let us continue to put up this fight! We are Yisroel, therefore we have it in our blood to fight!!
and may we all be Zocheh to the eventual ותוכל!!
אמן
