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Why did Yaakov go out of his way to meet Esav and shower him with gifts and flattery? The shiur develops that Yitzchok was right—Esav's technological and economic capabilities are essential for the world to reach its optimal level. Yaakov's mission is to motivate Esav by giving him the limitless power he craves, while ensuring Esav remains subservient to Torah (תורה) values and channeling his energies for divine purposes.
This shiur explores the puzzling narrative of Parshas Vayishlach, where Yaakov Avinu goes out of his way to meet Esav in a potentially dangerous confrontation. Geographically, Yaakov could have entered Eretz Yisrael from the north without encountering Esav in Har Seir to the southeast. Yet Yaakov initiates this meeting, sends messengers ahead, and showers Esav with what appears to be excessive flattery, calling himself "your servant" repeatedly—behavior seemingly inappropriate for the ish emes (man of truth) and forbidden as flattery of the wicked. The shiur addresses fundamental questions: Why does Yaakov need Esav to acknowledge (hodaa) the blessings when Yitzchok already validated them? Why isn't Yitzchok's declaration "gam baruch yihyeh" sufficient? Why must both Esav's angel and Esav himself admit that the blessings belong to Yaakov before the name Yisrael can be conferred? Additionally, why does Rashi (רש"י) find the laws of onah (marital frequency) alluded to in the specific gifts Yaakov gave Esav—what connection does this have to the Yaakov-Esav relationship?
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Bereishis 32-33, Parshas Vayishlach
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