Vaishlach - He Sent-Shabbat, 6 December 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786

Parashat Vayishlach 5786 - "He Sent "

Vayishlach tells of:

• Jacob preparing to meet Esau after 20 years

• Wrestling with an “angel” until dawn

• Receiving the new name Israel

• The tragic story of Dina and Shechem

• The violent reaction of Shimon and Levi

• Rachel’s passing while giving birth to Benjamin

Even on the surface, the parsha is charged with emotion, fear, loss, courage, and divine encounters.

“The Journey to Seir: Israel’s Future Encounter with Esau in the End of Days”

The Chassidic–Kabbalistic expansion of the mystical concept of “Until I come to my lord, to Seir” ( עַד אֲשֶׁר אָבוֹא אֶל־אֲדֹנִי שֵׂעִיר ) - Drawing on Zohar , Midrash , Chassidut , Kabbalah , Vilna Gaon , and the teachings of the Rebbes.

Gaddi Efrayim Quote:

“When Israel returns to its essence, and the nations return to their Creator, the meeting at Seir becomes possible.”

🌟 “Until I Come to My Lord, to Seir” — The Hidden Messianic Promise

A Deep Chassidic Revelation from the Jewish Sages – ‘Until I come to my lord, to Seir’( עַד אֲשֶׁר אָבוֹא אֶל־אֲדֹנִי שֵׂעִיר) (Gen 33:14). Esav made his home in mount Seir (Gen 36:8; Josh 24:4). Yaakov tells Esav he will meet him in Mount Seir. But “there is no record that our father Yaakov went to Seir to see his brother. Rather, Yakov will visit Esav in the future” (cf. Yerusalmi Avodah Zara 40:3), in the Days of the Messiah, “to judge the Mount of Esav” (which is Seir – שעיר, ie. the demon; cf. Ovadiah 1:21), and when the reconciliation between Israel and Edom will be complete (cf. Rashi; Dvarim Rabbah 234:4).‘Until I come to my lord, to Seir’. In other words: I shall suffer your exile and subjugation until my time to rule over the mount of Esav is come. As it is written: “And liberators shall ascend upon Mount Tzion to judge the mountain of Esav; and the kingdom shall be Hashem’s” ( Ovadiah 1:21).“Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant” ie. Let him rule first this world. – “while I proceed slowly” – meaning: I reserve myself for the End of Days; when I’ll join you to rule over mount Seir (cf. Zohar I:172a).

1. The Encounter at Seir: Not Historical— Eschatological

The Torah records Jacob telling Esau:

“ Until I come to my lord, to Seir.”

Yet Jacob never goes there.All classical Sages( Yerushalmi AZ 2:1; Rashi; Midrash Rabbah; Zohar) agree:

Jacob’s journey to Seir is not in the past— it is in the future, in the Days of Mashiach.

The Torah here plants a prophecy, not a travel plan.

Just as Israel’s history has layers ( Peshat– Remez– Drash– Sod), the meeting in Seir represents:

• The unfinished relationship between Israel (Jacob) and Edom (Esau).

• The final tikkun of the nations.

• The transformation of harsh Gevurah into the light of Redemption.

✨ 2. Seir = Esau’s Destiny, Edom’s Rectification and the Final Tikkun

In Kabbalah , Seir ( שֵׂעִיר ) is linked to:

• Se'ir / שעיר = “ goat ,” “ hairy ,” “ stormy force .”

• The demonic realm(Zohar calls it “the hairy one”).

• The unrefined Gevurot, uncontrolled strength.

Esau’s “hairiness” represents:

• Raw power

• Chaos-energy

• Unbridled passion

• The forces that challenge holiness

All of this must be subdued, refined, elevated. Thus the Torah hints:

Jacob must one day confront and sweeten Esau’s power at its root— Mount Seir.

This is not defeat; it is transformation.

🔥 3. Zohar: “I will come to Seir in the End of Days.”

The Zohar (I:172a) teaches:

“ Jacob said: I will come to you in Seir— in the future, in the End of Days.”

Meaning:

• Jacob delays the final encounter

• because the world wasn’t ready

• and Esau’s sparks were not yet purified.

Only in the final generation — the generation of Ikveta d’Meshicha(the footsteps of the Messiah) — does Jacob return to Seir.Why at the end?

• Esau represents the physical world at its strongest

• Jacob represents the spiritual world at its purest

• Only in the Messianic age can the two finally be reconciled.

🌕 4. Chabad Chassidut: “Seir is the Transformation of Gevurah into Chessed”

Chassidut explains:

• Jacob = Tiferet (harmony, beauty, truth)

• Esau = Gevurah (harshness, ego, intensity)

“Going to Seir” means:

Jacob must descend into Esau’s world to sweeten the harsh judgments ( Gevurot) and reveal their inner holiness.

This is the ultimate purpose of exile.

The Alter Rebbe (Likkutei Torah) states:

• Esau’s soul-root is extraordinarily high

• higher than Jacob’s in certain dimensions

• but it fell very low (“the fall of Esau is great because his root is great”)

Thus:The final Redemption requires Esau’s elevation — not destruction.This is the mystical purpose of “coming to Seir.”

🌄 5. Breslov: Jacob’s Limp and the Last Battle

Rebbe Nachman teaches:

• Jacob wrestles the Sar of Esau = the spiritual force of Edom

• The limp symbolizes the wounded faith of Israel in exile

• But also the future victory, when that limp becomes strength.

Seir represents:

• The place where Israel’s wound is healed

• And where Esau’s spiritual darkness is transformed into light

Thus the meeting in Seir is the Tikkun haChitzoni — the rectification of external forces.

🕊 6. Rachel’s Death and Seir: The Tears That Bring Mashiach

Immediately after the Esau encounter, Rachel dies.Chassidic and Kabbalistic sources teach:

• Rachel = Shechinah in exile

• Her death = the last concealment before Redemption

• Her tears = the power that transforms Esau (Jeremiah 31)

Rachel does not see Jacob reach Seir… but her tears make it possible.

Thus:Rachel’s weeping softens Esau’s Gevurah so Jacob can one day enter Seir in peace.

🏔 7. Vilna Gaon (Kol HaTor): “Mashiach ben Yosef Ascends to Seir First”

The Gaon of Vilna writes:

The mission of Mashiach ben Yosef is to fight the spiritual Esau, to begin the redemption, and to prepare the way for Mashiach ben David.

He explains:

• Mashiach ben Yosef = the battle of Seir

• Mashiach ben David = the completion on Mount Zion

Kol HaTor states:

• “ Judging Mount Esau” (Ovadiah 1:21)

• is the work of Yosef,

• not yet of David

Thus Jacob’s journey “to Seir” is:

• the mission of Mashiach ben Yosef

• confronting Edom

• uplifting the sparks of the nations

• preparing the world for universal redemption

👑 8. “Let my lord pass ahead” — Esau Rules the World First

Jacob tells Esau:

“ Let my lord pass ahead of his servant.”

Chassidut explains:

• Esau = this world

• Jacob = the world to come

• Esau rules first (“the red one reigns now”)

• Jacob rules in the End of Days

Thus:

History itself is a choreography of the encounter at Seir.

Esau rules the material world (technology, empires, power, industry). Jacob rules the spiritual world (Torah, eternity, redemption).When the two meet at Seir: Matter and spirit finally unite.

🌅 9. The Final Meeting: “The Kingdom Shall Be Hashem’s”

Ovadiah ends with:

“ And saviors shall ascend Mount Zion to judge Mount Esau; and the Kingdom shall be Hashem’s.”

Chassidut teaches:

• Saviors = the Tzaddikim

• Mount Esau = the nations refined

• “The Kingdom will be Hashem’s” = all duality ends

This is the full light of Mashiach, when Jacob’s promise is fulfilled: “I will come to my lord, to Seir.”

It is the mystical reconciliation of:

• Light and vessel

• Spirit and matter

• Jacob and Esau

• Israel and the nations

• This world and the world to come

SUMMARY: THE MESSAGE OF VAYISHLACH IN THE SAGES’ VOICE

Vayishlach is not just a narrative—it is a blueprint of Israel’s destiny.

1. Wrestling the Angel

→ The eternal struggle between holiness and chaos.

→ The source of the name Israel.

2. Jacob & Esau

→ Symbol of future exiles and eventual reconciliation.

3. Dina's Story

→ A painful lesson in purity, identity, and influence.

4. Rachel’s Death

→ The Shechinah weeping for her children.

5. Benjamin’s Birth

→ New light emerging from suffering.

→ Future power of the Temple (built in Benjamin’s territory).