Parashat Hashavua: The Visits in Beit El of Yaakov/Yisrael – part II | Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Beit Midrash

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Parashat Hashavua

קטגוריה משנית

Torah Portion and Tanach
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[Last time, we saw about Yaakov’s erecting an altar in Beit El as he left Eretz Yisrael and as he returned, and the preparations of having his entourage remove idols.]
The preparations for the second episode in Beit El took place after the story of Yaakov and his sons in Shechem. Yaakov commanded the people of his encampment to remove the idols they had picked up in the area before they could go to Beit El (Bereishit 35:2). Connecting this removal of idol worship to dealing with brit mila in Shechem, we see a conversion process. This provides a source within the text, for the midrash that Yaakov was heavily involved in the realm of conversions.
In fact the pasuk refers to the audience of Yaakov’s address as "the people who were with him." These were apparently people from around Shechem who joined Yaakov’s faith community. This required a full conversion process, which includes accepting Hashem’ dominion and adherence to His mitzvot. The p’sukim hint how this was done. Yaakov took the idols he collected and buried them under a tree near Shechem (ibid. 4). Hundreds of years later, Yehoshua exhorted the people to get rid of idols under the tree in the Temple of Hashem and prepare themselves to serve Hashem (Yehoshua 24:23-26). They accepted the challenge, saying: "We will serve Hashem and listen to His voice." This language echoes that which was used at Sinai, when the whole nation accepted the mitzvot in a "national conversion."
The episode in Yehoshua occurred when Bnei Yisrael had just entered the Land, and because of that region’s historical affiliation with Jewish beliefs, there were no battles in the area of Shechem. This enabled Yehoshua to immediately after crossing the Jordan, erect an altar on Mt. Eival to renew the covenant, as Moshe was commanded (Devarim 27:1-26).
Therefore, we can say that Yaakov and family started national life for the future great nation. Not only did he lead his sons, but also those who decided to join him. It was as a leader on that basis that he returned to Beit El.
His test was in Shechem. At first, he bought a plot of land (Bereishit 33:19), as Avraham had. This let it be known that he respected individuals’ ownership in the Land that nationally had been promised to him and his offspring, as long as the locals recognized that the Land was reserved for Yaakov, as a Israelite and democratic entity in which they could stay and prosper. Yaakov began with negotiations with the people of Shechem. The prince by the name of Shechem rejected this, which he showed by forcefully taking Yaakov’s daughter, thereby showing "his dominance." Those who joined with Yaakov showed that they accepted the preeminence of Yaakov’s nation in the making.
In step with this emergence, Hashem changed Yaakov’s name to Yisrael, with the promise that a nation with kings will come from him (see Bereishit 35:10-12). The pursued Yaakov turned into the victorious Yisrael. Judaism is not based on a path in life for individuals but for the special nation that serves as a light for the nations.
The State of Israel is tasked with continuing this legacy, including as a united nation destroying its cruel enemies. While, like Yaakov, we extend our hand in peace, when it is not accepted, we know how to fight when we are forced to do so.

Vayeshev

Parashat Hashavua