Redefining Victory

The angel’s words to Yaakov are striking. He tells him he’s won, when by all appearances, it was a draw. Neither Yaakov nor the angel defeated the other. So, what does the Torah mean by calling this a victory?

For most of us, winning means winning, standing victorious with no room for doubt (unlike the Tyson/Paul “fight”). But here, Yaakov’s win wasn’t about overpowering the angel. It was about enduring, about holding his ground and refusing to back down.

Look closely at the words of the Passuk: The angel says, “Send me on my way, for dawn is breaking.” Yaakov replies, “I will not send you on your way unless you bless me.” The angel, in essence, is asking to leave, conceding that Yaakov’s persistence outlasted him.

Too often, we equate success with clear, undeniable victories: a purchase offer, a specific job KPI, a goal scored. And when that kind of victory seems out of reach, it’s easy to give up, thinking there’s no point in trying.

But life doesn’t always work like that. 

Think about marathons. Most runners know they’re not going to come in first place. But crossing the finish line despite exhaustion, pain, and doubt through showing up and refusing to quit is the win. 

The same holds true for relationships, careers, and personal growth.

Staying in the game, even when success isn’t guaranteed, is where resilience is built. In fact, many of life’s greatest accomplishments come from enduring struggles rather than overpowering them.

We live in a culture that glorifies instant success, where setbacks and standstills are often seen as failures. But perseverance is its own kind of victory, so the next time you’re tempted to quit because winning seems impossible, remember Yaakov. You don’t need to knock anyone out (Paul/Tyson). 

You just need to stay in the fight.

The draw is the win.

Shabbat Shalom!