Untold stories abound within Jewish tradition. As we read through the Torah we find gaps in the text that we fill with midrash – interpretative tales.
The most famous of these wove a story of Abraham who broke idols in his father’s idol-shop.
This week we read about Jacob and how he sent his family ahead of him and wrestled by himself with a strange godly entity. Jacob’s wrestling through the night led to him receiving a new name. He became Israel, “God-wrestler”. What happened to the rest of his family at this time?
Our collections of midrash speak of other wrestling matches – like the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, and some of them talk about their reconciliation being a true source of blessing for their family.
Jewish wisdom offers us many models of positive struggle, both within ourselves and between us and those around us.
May all of our struggles lead to reconciliations and blessings.