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Beit Midrash
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While we (presumably) can't see them, they apparently are quite prolific. In fact, the hero of our Sedra, Yakov, seems to encounter them on a regular basis. When he dreamt his famous "ladder" dream, there they were, ascending and descending. When he left Lavan's house and headed to Eretz Yisrael, the angels accompanied him. And our parsha begins by noting that Yakov sent angels to Esav in preparation for their meeting; they return and warn him that Esav is approaching with a rather substantial army.
My friend FE was quite puzzled by the fact that Yakov seemed to be able to command the angels; wasn't that Hashem's province alone? Can a human being really connect to a supernatural being, even direct them to help him?
Perhaps the text itself can guide us. When the angels met Yakov before he departed for Israel, the pasuk says "Vayif'g'u bo malachei Elokim - the angels of G-d encountered him." This word, "Vayif'g'u" is the very same word the Torah uses when Yakov had his iconic dream. There, Rashi says the word means "prayer," i.e. that Yakov prayed. I suggest that the Torah is hinting to us that when we pray - or study Torah or perform Mitzvot - we create angels! Our own, personal, private angels. This is what Rav Eliezer was saying (Pirkei Avot 4:12) when he declares: "Every time you do a Mitzva, you acquire a defender; every time you sin, you acquire an accuser." Who could these defenders and accusers be if not angels?!
But wait! If Yakov had a band of angels with him, angels that he could even give directions to, why was he "terrified and afraid?" Why did he have to prepare for war, splitting his family into camps and expecting the worst? Why didn't he just let his angels duke it out with Esav?
The answer seems clear to me: True, we have angels, and lots of them. Their task is to inspire us, to motivate us, to accompany us and to be there by our side wherever we go - especially in times of crisis. But they want us to fight our own fight, to use our own skills and strengths to do acts of Chesed and battle injustice, to make our mark in the world, to fall and then get up again as we travel life's highways. Yes, they may at times ask their master, Hashem, to give us a little push, or make sure that we don't fall too far. But the real work in this world is human, not angelic. Yakov understood that, and so he did what he had to do to survive, and to prevail.
You may not be able to see them or hear them, but if you close your eyes and open your soul, you'll surely feel that you've been touched by an angel.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
