Vayishlach

Face of the Divine

Philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, a holocaust survivor, writes about the experience of calling out to God and getting no response. In a world where God does not always respond, each person needs to be responsible for responding to each other. When a face in need presents itself, we should respond, no matter how distant or different the face seems. God operates in the world wherever a face in need calls out, and wherever a person is motivated to respond.

In presenting his ideas, Levinas plays on language of Parshat Vayishlach. In this parashah, Ya'akov is about to come face to face with the twin brother he fears. The night before the meeting, Ya'akov wrestles in the night with a mysterious stranger. The symbolism of the story is obvious: Ya'akov wrestles with his past. He is successful, and he receives a new name. Ya'akov describes the experience by saying "I have seen the face of God." When he sees his brother the next day he says, "Seeing your face is like seeing the face of the divine."

What does Ya'akov mean? Levinas would say that Ya'akov means many things. "Picturing your face called me into God's presence." "I was afraid to see you face to face, but God's presence motivated me." "Now that I am open to you, I see God's presence reflected in your face." 

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