Vayishlach

Richard Joel

Richard Joel is the President of Yeshiva University, New York, an internationally renowned teacher and expert on Jewish education.

Jacob or Israel. What’s in a Name?

The central episode in Parshat Vayishlach involves Jacob wrestling with Esau's arch‐angel. As a result of Jacob's victory, the Torah teaches us that G‐d changed Jacob's name to Yisrael, Israel.

There are many other name changes in the Torah. Abram becomes Abraham, and Sarai becomes Sarah. However, there is a world of difference between these name changes and that of Jacob. The Talmud (Berachot 13a) teaches that one who refers to Abraham by his original name, transgresses a commandment. The same holds true for Sarah. However, the Torah refers to our patriarch as both Jacob and Israel after he vanquishes Esau's angel.

Nowhere do we find prohibition to call Israel Jacob. What is the reason for this difference? 

To gain an answer, we must look into the meaning of these names. The name Avram comes from two Hebrew words, av ram, father or leader of the exalted. Originally, Avram's name connoted that he serve as the father of the exalted. However, when G‐d changed his name, he became av hamon goyim, father of many nations. Now his mission was to inspire all of society, not only the elite. For this reason we may no longer use the name Avram, as G‐d has charged us with the far more ambitious mission of Abraham.

In contrast, the names Jacob and Israel both contain meaning for us today. Chassidic masters understand that the name Israel implies an exalted person, while the name Jacob stands for humility. Even after his name change, even after defeating the forces of Esau and arriving at a position of leadership, he was still humble Jacob. For this reason, Chassidic masters argue the Torah continued referring to him as Jacob. Even as one is elevated to the level of an Israel, he must cling to the humanity and humility of a Jacob.

I prefer a slightly modified explanation. Israel comes from the Hebrew word sar. It implies regal bearing and nobility. As the Children of Israel, we are challenged to be dignified and upright, outstanding in character, morals and virtue, and lead our society. We must channel our energies not only to improve ourselves but to better mankind and advance Western civilization. The name Jacob however was earned because Jacob grabbed for his brother's ekev, his heel. his name implies one who is constantly striving, always grasping for something more.

By continuing to use both names, we learn the importance of both qualities. In addition to being Israel, models of nobility who enrich civilization by spreading the values we cherish, we must retain our residual name Jacob. The name Jacob reminds us that even though we bear nobility, we must strive forward with humility. We must never rest on our laurels but constantly reach to make the world even better - more spiritual, more idealistic and with a greater commitment to values.