PARSHA & PROSE: VAYISHLACH AND ’THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA’ (Audio)

The Torah portion Vayishlach, found in Genesis 32:4–36:43, tells the story of Jacob’s reunion with his estranged brother Esau, his wrestling with an angel, and his eventual return to the land of Canaan. It also includes the tragic account of the massacre of Shechem and the growth of Jacob's family. This portion explores themes of reconciliation, struggle, and personal transformation. In a similar vein, Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Old Man and the Sea centers on the lone struggle of Santiago, an aging fisherman, as he battles a giant marlin far out in the ocean. Both works explore the inner strength and perseverance required to face life's challenges, whether in the context of family conflict and divine encounters, as in Vayishlach, or in the solitary, epic battle of Santiago. Both narratives emphasize the complex relationship between struggle, identity, and the pursuit of redemption, portraying characters who confront and overcome adversity with courage, determination, and faith.