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MyMission

(2,000 posts)
1. There are many interpretations to this story
Mon Jan 3, 2022, 03:50 PM
Jan 2022

Even within the Jewish community. I can give you some basic information, explanations, definitions, and a few links for you to investigate. I can't claim to be a Jewish scholar, (I know a few) but I am fairly observant, and have and do study Torah on a weekly basis.

So, Regarding Jewish practice and studies and commentary, here's some basic information.

Branches of Judaism, as you may know, basically include reform (least observant of Jewish law), conservative (mix of observance and modernity, but strict adherence to Jewish ritual) and orthodox (strict adherence to Jewish law and ritual), with reconstructionist and renewal and modern orthodox added to the mix in recent decades. Rabbi's in all branches study and refer to similar sources and texts, although they will offer differing interpretations.

Jews around the world read/study the Torah (5 books of Moses) every year in order, based on the Jewish calendar. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). We complete Deuteronomy and begin Genesis on the same day, several weeks after the Jewish new Year.

There is a weekly Torah portion or chapter (parsha or parshat), and these stories are interpreted and discussed every year. Rabbi's give a sermon (d'var=speech or talk) or write about it every year. As we study "the same portion" year after year, we are changing, growing, seeing or relating to different parts of the story. And we have rabbi's and scholars who have been writing on this for centuries!

Vayishlach is the Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43 that contains this story.
(You could Google vayishlach commentary and be reading for years!)

Commentary on this Torah portion is vast, drawing from various sources.
We have midrash, which is stories that supplement or explain or enhance the Torah portion.
Midrashim is plural.
We have Talmud, which is the legal, ritualistic discussion of what the Torah meant and means.
When you read discussions on this story from a Jewish lens you will see those words.

So, here are some links. You asked for reform, but I'm including others too.

Chabad is part of the Orthodox segment, and they do religious and spiritual outreach to Jews everywhere. Their website offers assorted stories and interpretations on any given parsha or subject. I found this comprehensive article.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2389625/jewish/Jacob-Wrestles-With-the-Angel.htm

The Jewish theological seminary (JTS) is the seat of the conservative movement. They train Rabbi's and Jewish scholars. Here's a link to assorted commentary on this parsha that will offer a wide range of perspectives.
https://www.jtsa.edu/jts-torah-online/

And here's a link to an article from the reform community.
https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/torah-commentary/wrestling-man-not-angel

Many of the articles will touch on similar themes or threads.
{Was he wrestling with an angel, a man, himself?)

I hope this is helpful, and not too much information.


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