When Was the Last Time You Rode Your Donkey?

Most material acquisitions are made by people who subordinate themselves to their material possessions; they crave them, they cherish them, they live for them. Jacob, conversely, makes sure that his material possessions are subordinated to him; they are only used to serve Jacob’s true and intrinsic needs and desires which were spiritual.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU RODE YOUR

DONKEY?

Why did Jacob Tease Esau with a Display of his Wealth?

In his confrontation with his brother Esau, Jacob describes the wealth that he accumulated in the years that he spent with his uncle Laban in the following manner:

“And I acquired oxen and donkeys, sheep servants and maidservants.”

On the surface it appears that Jacob was attempting to impress his brother Esau with his material possessions. But this is problematic. Jacob knew that Esau’s desire to kill him derived from his jealousy. Esau hated Jacob precisely because he thought Jacob had “stolen” the material blessings that he felt were destined only for him. Why then would Jacob — upon his return home — fearing his brother’s wrath, speak of his material acquisitions that could only evoke feelings of envy and revenge?

Rashi’s Approach

Rashi addresses this question by focusing on the nature of his worldly acquisitions. Jacob does not speak of his agricultural bounty, but of his prosperity with movable items, animals servants etc. Jacob was thus saying to his brother. “You should realize that the blessings that I got from my father that G-d would give me the ‘fat of the land and the dew of the heavens’ did, in fact, not come true. All my wealth consists of items that were not contained in our father’s blessings.”

Subordinated to Jacob

There is another approach to this problem that is based on the more literal rendition of the above-mentioned verse. Rather than “And I acquired oxen, donkeys etc.” a more literal translation would yield: “And the oxen and donkeys.. were unto me.”

This is meant to convey a message how Jacob related to his material possessions. They were all subordinated “unto me.” Most material acquisitions are made by people who subordinate themselves to their material possessions; they crave them, they cherish them, they live for them.

Jacob, conversely, makes sure that his material possessions are subordinated to him; they are only used to serve Jacob’s true and intrinsic needs and desires which were spiritual.

By emphasizing the spiritual nature of his material possessions, Jacob sought to assuage the anger of his brother Esau. Esau had no reason to be angry over Jacob’s material fortune. He was not competing with Esau for material power, because where Jacob was concerned, the material items were no longer material in essence, once they were brought into Jacob’s jurisdiction.

Jacob’s and Moshiach’s Donkey

This approach can also shed some light on a rather strange statement made by the Midrash on this verse. The “donkeys” Jacob lists among his acquisitions, the Midrash states, refers to the Moshiach who will “ride on a donkey.” What connection does Jacob’s donkey have to do with Moshiach?

Commentators explain that the Hebrew word for donkey, Chamor, derives from a root word that means gross materialism. Moshiach’s riding on a donkey means that he exercises complete control over his material possessions. Rather than being subordinated to his material existence, the material existence is subordinated to him.

By relating to his adversarial brother about his acquisition of a donkey, Jacob was informing Esau that he had gained mastery over his donkey-material existence and that he was therefore ready for the Messianic Age at which time the world will be refined and all people will be able to live together in harmony and peace, because what separates us is the rivalry and jealousy that obsession with material goods engender.

Unfortunately, Esau was not quite ready for this state of affairs at that time.

However, the thousands of years that have elapsed with its cumulative accomplishments have indeed succeeded in preparing the world for the imminent coming of the Moshiach at which time we will all live together in pace and serve G-d in unison.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Vayishlach by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.