Any wrestling Jacobs out there?

In my last Times of Israel article, “Hanukkah, the ancient Greeks, and wrestling,” I delved into Jacob’s wrestling match with God’s angel, and I do believe some follow-up exploration on the subject could prove beneficial – particularly to those who view life as a spiritual journey.

While it is true that Genesis tells us that Jacob “prevailed” over the angel, to my way of thinking, that marathon wrestling match between the two was actually a draw. For one thing, Jacob walked away with a dislocated hip and a permanent limp – not exactly the image of a victorious David. And that dislocated hip? God’s angel seemed to be wrestling on a time clock that expired at daybreak. With dawn approaching, the angel seemed to wrench Jacob’s hip at will, almost as if he had been toying with Jacob all along. What Jacob prevailed at, that was undeniable, was hanging on, or clinging to the angel and not letting go of him. To that end Jacob wrestled with God and was victorious.

In Jewish mysticism, the Hebrew word for “clinging to” is devekut. It is a Kabbalist/Hasid word that describes a much sought-after state of being. Devekut is usually an ecstasy one obtains when cleaving to God while meditating. I believe Jacob experienced devekut while wrestling with the angel. His was what is called a “devekut in concealment.” Rather than from meditation, devekut in concealment springs forth from holding fast to God when life is most difficult and God seems to be pushing you away. This at least is what I think; my contribution to the discussion of what took place within Jacob at the deepest of levels when he transformed from being Jacob to being Israel (he who wrestles with God).

I am not a stranger to wrestling with God. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve been wrestling with God all my life. My wrestling has been more about staying on the spiritual path and keeping my yetzer hara in check.

By the way, I wrestled in high school. Back in 1967, I received a high school trophy for “Most Improved Freshman Wrestler.” I thought it was pretty cool at the time until I heard what came with it: “Wow, you must have been pretty bad when you started out.”

Looking at the trophy now brings a smile to my face. I was never cut out to be a champion, but to demonstrate steady improvement in wrestling, or whatever one chooses to do in life, is something special. So much more so when it comes to improving one’s core being.

As for myself, when my days are over and my loved ones say Mourner’s Kaddish for me, I will not be expecting a “Spiritual MVP” trophy with my name on it waiting for me on the other side. But I think it would be pretty cool to be given a trophy engraved instead with my name and the words, “Most improved Neshamah.”