Parshas Vayishlach: The Changing Name Of Evil Gives Yaakov An Eternal Bracha
Yaakov asked the Malach with whom he fought all night, to tell him his name. Why did Yaakov want to know his name? Furthermore the Malach answered (Vayishlach 32:30), "Lama Zeh Tishal Lshmi? Why do you ask my name?" Rashi explains that Malachim have no permanent name, it depends on their mission at the moment. Yet, ironically, this Malach gave Yaakov a new everlasting name of Yisrael. Why did he do that if Yaakov only asked him for a bracha?
This Malach was the Malach of Eisav otherwise known as the Yetzer Hara. Yaakov wanted to know the nature of the beast and how to combat him. "To this the Malach answered," explains Rav Shimshon Pincus, "you cannot know my name. In each generation I take on a new name. Once it was Avodah Zara. When that fell by the wayside my new name became philosophy. Then Haskala, then communism, and so on and so forth. At my roots I am always evil, but my name keeps changing to keep me fresh and effective."
Yaakov wanted a bracha to combat the Yetzer Hara and preserve his future descendants from its evil clutches. To this the Malach said, "Your name will be Yisrael. He who fights with the Malach of evil, and is victorious. Do not change your name," advised the Malach. "Change is the tool of the enemy. Stick to Torah and stay close to Hashem, without being caught up in the changing times, and you will be just fine!"
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