“And Jacob sent angels before him to Esau his brother ...” –Genesis 32:4
The verse tells us that Jacob sent angels “before him.” This seems superfluous. Obviously if he sent the angels, they were going before him?
Rabbi Eliyohu Lopian (1872–1970) in his work Lev Eliyohu explains that Jacob was a fugitive from his brother Esau for thirty-six years after receiving the blessings intended for Esau from his father Isaac. He was now walking into the lion’s den by entering his brother’s territory. He split up his family and his entire estate to ensure survival of at least half his family and he engaged in a multiple tactic war against Esau consisting of prayer, gifts, and physical confrontation. Whom did Jacob choose to bring the pacifying presents to Esau? None other than angels. Jacob did not want to use the Heavenly Angels appointed by G-d. He chose instead a different angel: the angels which he personally created. Those angles advocated on his behalf. Jacob lived such a spiritual life that the angels were like his physical children ready to do his bidding. He saw his angels and made good use of them. We do not see our angels, but we are aware that they exist.
So how do we create an angel? The Mishna in Avos (4:13) tells us, “Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: He who fulfills even a single mitzvah gains himself a single advocate, and he who commits even a single transgression gains himself a single accuser.” In Psalms 91:11 we are informed that the performance of a mitzvah will earn us special protection. “He (G-d) will charge His angels for you, to protect you in all your ways.” Every one of our actions creates a spiritual being.
The author of the Code of Jewish Law, Rabbi Joseph Karo (1488 -1575) famously had an angel from whom he studied Torah. He even wrote an entire book recording the Torah that he learnt from the angel. How did he merit having an angel as his tutor? It was a reward for his memorization of the six tractates of the Mishna. In fact the angel would begin the study session by saying “I the Mishna am speaking…” (As recorded in the Sh”ela Mesechta Shavuos) This angel was created by Rabbi Karo himself as an outgrowth of his study of the Mishna. He created his own tutor.
We all have the ability to make angels. Although we might envision an angel as a light weight winged being that only exists in fairy tales, every one of our actions create an angel. Some people view the supernatural world as being non-existent. Oftentimes I have heard ignorant newcomers to Judaism deride the Jewish belief in the afterlife as being of Christian philosophy and having no place in our tradition. Those people can’t be more mistaken. As Jews, we very strongly believe in the spiritual world. We believe that there are positive and negative energies in the world and our actions can tip the scales for the entire universe. We also believe that the entire world of the supernatural is here for one purpose: to enable us to connect to G-d.
Jacob was well aware of his ability to create and affect the world beyond us. He used it to his own advantage. There is no reason for us not to incorporate that fundamental belief into our own belief system. We can begin creating the greatest advocates on our behalf. No longer is the study of Torah and performance of mitzvah viewed as a mere commendable act, it is being a partner in the creation of a galaxy of angels!
May we all merit to only create positive angels on our behalf.
