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Angels in this weeks Parasha

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muman613:
This weeks Parasha contains mention of several 'angels'. First there are angels which Jacob sends as scouts to inform his brother {who is coming with 400 men to kill Jacob} that he seeks peace. There is some discussion as to whether these were actual angels in the 'spiritual' sense or they were just messengers. The Hebrew word for Angel is the same word for Messenger, Malach.

But we also encounter the story where Jacob wrestles with an angel. Some commentators claim this was the angel of Essau himself while others claim it is either the Arch Angel Gabriel or Michael.


Yaakov avinu's (our forefather Jacob's) midnight encounter with a mysterious angel: Who was this angel, what was his purpose, and by what name was he known? Yaakov overcomes the angel, and by doing so gains insight into all these questions. He also acquires for himself a new name, a new identity, and a new role to play in establishing the Divine presence here on this earth.

What do we learn from this? There are many lessons in this weeks Parasha. But the fact that an angel is a messenger should make us consider every message that we perceive. It is important for a Jew to live life every day looking for the messages from our father in Heaven. These messages should bring us to understand the ways of Hashem and provoke us to improve ourselves. If we ignore messages intended to help us we will never be able to rise to our full potential.



--- Quote ---http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/692875/jewish/What-Are-Angels.htm

Angel Functions

The Hebrew word for angel is "malach," which means messenger, for the angels are G‑d's messengers to perform various missions. Every angel is "programmed" to perform certain tasks; such as Michael who is dispatched on missions which are expressions of G‑d's kindness; Gavriel, who executes G‑d's severe judgments; and Rafael, whose responsibility it is to heal.8 Some angels are created for one specific task, and upon the task's completion cease to exist. According to the Zohar9 one of the angels' tasks is to transport our words of prayer and Torah-study before G‑d's throne.

Another type of angels are those that are created through the deeds of man. In the words of our Sages: "He who fulfills one mitzvah, acquires for himself one angel-advocate; he who commits one transgression, acquires against himself one angel-accuser."10 These are formed from the (intellectual and emotional) energy which one invests in the performance of a mitzvah, the study of Torah, or in prayer—or, conversely, energy applied in the execution of a sin.

According to some schools of thought, the term angel in Jewish literature can also refer to the rules of nature, which – though ostensibly "natural" powers – are also G‑dly endowed powers; His messengers that perform His will.11

In our daily prayers we refer to the songs of praise which the angels sing before G‑d. The angels have "shifts," singing at designated times of day or night. The type of praise they sing reflects the particular angel's spiritual status. The angels' singing is alluded to in the abovementioned story of Jacob's fight with the angel, at the end of which the angel pleaded with Jacob to free him "for the dawn has risen."12 According to the Midrash, the angel's rush was because his shift to sing before G‑d had arrived. Similarly, according to the Midrash, when Moses spent forty days studying with G‑d, he knew what time of day it was based on the changing shifts of the angels' singing.
--- End quote ---


PS: It is important to realize that we are never supposed to ascribe any power to angels. We are forbidden from praying 'to an angel'.  Angels are supposed to carry out the will of Hashem. While there are arguments as to whether angels have 'free will' as we understand it most sages imply that they don't, and those who say they do will add that since they are so close to Hashem they have absolutely no desire to go against his will...

muman613:
Here is a discussion of who the angel who Jacob wrestled with:


http://asbee.net/vayishlachangel.htm

Background: After Jacob stole the blessing of Esav, he ran off to his uncle Laban to find refuge from an angry brother and to marry.  At Laban's house, Jacob has 12 children and acquires much wealth. After 20 years there, G-d appeared to him and reminded him of his vow to give one tenth of his wealth to G-d and to establish a house of G-d in Canaan. Jacob then ran away from Laban, and on his way home, he encountered a camp of angels. He sends greetings to Esav. The returning messengers report that Esav is on his way to encounter Jacob with 400 men. Imagining the worst, Jacob prepares to appease his brother by sending an elaborate gift (incl. tens of cows and goats). As Jacob is moving his family, he finds himself alone at a river, fighting a mysterious man-angel.

Genesis, chapter 32, verses 25-33:
Jacob remained alone, and a man strugled with him until the break of dawn. When he saw that he could not defeat him, he reached for the socket of Jacob's hip, so that the socket of Jacob's hip was strained as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking."...bless me...not Jacob but Yisrael will be your name for you have fought with G-d and angels and prevailed...What is your name... Why should you ask..and he blessed him there.

1. What was the meaning of his encounter?
2. Who was the assailant?
3. Why did he attack?
4. What's the significance of his name change and blessing?
5. How does this fit into the context of the story?

Spiritual

Midrash: The spirit of Esav came and caused spiritual injury among  some of the progeny of Yaakov. Who were they? The generations who were forcibly converted.

Yalqut Shim'oni (12th cent. Provencal anthology of midrash): The angel was Michael, trying to convince Yaakov of his own strength. He blessed him and said, "May your children be as righteous as you."

Rashi (11th cent. French commentator): Jacob forced the angel of Esav to agree to the blessings of Isaac.

Rashbam (12th cent. grandson of Rashi): Jacob tried to run away from Esav. An angel stopped him and punished him because he should have trusted in G-d's  promise to bring him home safely.

Hizkuni  (13th cent.): The angel came to reassure him. He was punished, however. for fearing Esav.

Rabbi David Kimkhi  (13th cent. Provencal  grammmarian): No one will be able to hurt Jacob except for the rape of Dinah.

Nahmanides (13th cent. Spanish commentator): The angel told him not to pray to him ("you don't need my name in order to invoke it"), but only to G-d.

Maimonides: It was a dream.

Rabbi Elimelekh (early Hasidic Rabbi): 1)The angel attacked his sins(the dust). As Ya'akob struggled with his sins the dust went up to the heavens, as he was forgiven.

Keli Yakar  (Polish 16th cent. commentator): The evil inclination came to take advantage of Jacob's moral weakness; his newly acquired interest in sheep and wealth. He tried to blind him from his ability to see the mysteries of life.

R. Levi Yitzkhak of Berditchov  (19th cent. hasidic Rabbi): 1)Faith is the lower body. The upper body is understanding. On the basis of pure faith, Jacob is vulnerable unless it is bolstered by understanding. 2) Jacob's encounters with humans are also encounters with G-d.

Daniel J. Elazar (contemporary political scientist): The people Israel are represented by this episode: a person struggling with G-d. We are not called "Abraham" or "Isaac" who submitted wholeheartedly to G-d.

muman613:
What is an angel? Short discussion of the Jewish concept of angels...

muman613:
Rabbi Richman discusses Vayishlach in 2008:

muman613:
It is interesting that Rabbi Richman mentions Perek Shira which I recently discussed in a thread a couple weeks ago. I wrote about how an article about Ravens being able to communicate sparked my interest in what the Torah told us about Ravens. I then went on to say that through nature we can learn about our relationship with Hashem, and through his creation we can see his Divine Providence. Every creature on earth sings a song to Hashem, and Perek Shira discusses what the angels of every creation sing to Hashem.

Here is a video by Rabbi Lazer Brody on this:

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