The narrative of Jacob continues in this week's Torah selection of Parashat Vayishlach. Jacob sends a message of reconciliation to his brother Esau, but is fearful as four hundred men accompany Esau. Jacob prays to G-d for protection. He also prepares beautiful gifts for his estranged brother.

We read of Jacob's struggle as he crosses over the river Yabbok. A messenger from G-d wrestles with Jacob. As Jacob begins to overtake him, the messenger pins Jacob down by the hollow of his thigh. Jacob will not relent unless the messenger blesses him. The messenger bestows him with a new name, "Israel". The origin of Israel is associated with Jacob's striving yet prevailing. The messenger refuses to share his name with Jacob. The prohibition on eating the hindquarters of the kosher animal derives from this narrative. The struggle of Jacob is recalled in the ban upon the "gid hanasheh". Certain butchers are trained in its removal, which would then allow the hindquarters of beef to be permissible.

Finally, Jacob and Esau meet and are reconciled. The Hebrew word for the kiss of Esau, "vayishakehu" has dots placed above it. The Massoretes questioned the sincerity of the kiss of Jacob. Esau is introduced to Jacob's family. The two men departed in peace. Esau settles in Seir; Jacob travels to Sukkot and Shechem.

Genesis Chapter 34 presents the narrative of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob and Leah. Dinah's story is the basis of the best-selling novel, The Red Tent. Hamor, Shechem's son, rapes Dinah. Ironically, he is then sympathetic towards her. Throughout the narrative, Dinah is passive. The story revolves about the dishonor brought upon Jacob's sons. Hamor, Shechem's father, proposes that his son marry Dinah. He suggests an alliance between the two clans. Dinah's brothers propose that Shechem's clan undergo circumcision in order for the alliance to occur. After they are circumcised, Jacob's sons ruthlessly attack Shechem's family. Shechem and Hamor are killed. Jacob's sons seize the spoils of battle. Simon and Levi justify their action to Jacob.

Jacob establishes an altar to G-d at Beit El. We read of the death of Deborah, Rebecca's nurse. An alternative to the origin of the name Israel is shared. G-d blesses Jacob with the name "Israel" at Beit El.

The Torah shares the death of Rachel in childbirth. She gives birth before her death to BenOni, "the son of my sorrow". Euphemistically, the child's name is changed to Benjamin, "the son of the right hand." The place of Rachel's death is referred to as Efrat or Bethlehem. Today, Efrat is one of the newer suburbs of Jerusalem, wedged in between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The traditional site of Rachel's burial became a pilgrimage site for Jews. It is known as "Kever Rachel" and is now located in Palestinian territory. "Kever Rachel" was also featured in many Zionist publications as well as traditional ones. The prophet Jeremiah developed the image of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob.

The Torah shares a fragment of a narrative about Reuben being intimate with the Jacob's concubine, Bilhah. However, the story is not fully shared, no doubt because it detracts from Jacob's honor. Isaac dies and is buried by Jacob and Esau.

Genesis Chapter 36 shares the genealogy of Esau. Esau married two Canaanite women, Adah and Oholibamah. In order to appease Isaac, he also married Ishmael's daughter, Bosmat. The genealogy is highly developed.