I have a group chat with Jewish friends that used to be a predictable nightmare. We fought about everything: Israeli politics, American politics, theological politics, even imaginary politics. But lately? Bliss. Every headline about antisemitism—on campus, in the streets—we all agree. I thought: Look at us. Healing.

And then, last week, someone mentioned Bibi and Haredi draft exemptions. Within seconds, the group reverted to its natural state: arguing, defensive, frustrated, exhausted.

It was still on my mind when I read this week’s Torah portion, Vayishlach. Here’s what struck me: Vayishlach is the closing chapter on Jacob’s external enemies.

After this, Genesis turns inward: Joseph and his brothers, jealousy, betrayal, the collapse of trust. The Torah devotes more time, more emotion, and more moral depth to the fractures within the family than to the enemies beyond it.

Genesis is warning us: We Jews are far more capable of destroying ourselves than our enemies are. External threats are real. They demand response. But they’re not what will break us. What breaks us is what we do to one another.

* * *

Vayishlach opens with Jacob preparing to confront his brother Esau, who is walking towards him with 400 armed men.

Earlier, Jacob had just finished confronting Laban — his uncle and........

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