Diplomatically Separate

It is interesting to note how Yakov diplomatically separated himself from Eisav. After the two brothers made peace, Eisav offered to travel together with his brother’s family.

Yakov realized that his association with Eisav cannot bring any positive results. His negative influence on Yakov’s family would have been seriously detrimental. This was a warning for future generations as to how to take great caution in our association with the Gentile world.

At our Passover Seder, we recite the Pasuk, וירעו אותנו המצרים. The word וירעו, is generally translated that the Egyptians acted in an evil way, derived from the word, רע.

But וירעו could also come from the word רעך, your friend.

Rabbi Twerski points out how historically we have been harmed by physical attacks against Jews. The Holocaust was such an example where six million Jews perished. But since the Holocaust, we lost six million Jews to intermarriage. This came about because Jews were befriended by their non-Jewish acquaintances.

The best way for us to act is to remain separate. We are to always be courteous and respectful in our dealings with non-Jews, but we must realize the dangers.

Once a distraught father went to Rabbi Twerski, after his son had intermarried. He told the rabbi that had he known the future outcome, he would have kept a kosher home. We must learn from Yakov how to separate and take pride in our own Jewishness.