The most interesting moment in this morning's parasha occurs when Jacob wrestles with a mysterious person.
They wrestle until the break of dawn when the mysterious man with a touch of his finger, wrecks Yakov's hip
socket. 

Then the man says, "HEBREW let me go for dawn is breaking." 

In response Yakov demands, "HEBREW I will not let you go until I am blessed." A question I have is why
does Yaakov want the mysterious man to bless him? The answer is because Yaakov realized that after this
struggle he would be a different person. When we experience a struggle in life, or emerge from a struggle, we
become a new person.


There are many struggles in life. Some that can be successful and some that are not successful. The Jewish
people have had to experience many different types of struggles. One is at the hands of our enemies who
wish to destroy us. At other times, our enemies threaten us not with physical attacks, but with spiritual ones.
They attack the beliefs and the practices of Judaism with sarcasm and ridicule. 

On a personal basis I feel that one of the most important struggles in life is to struggle within myself. This is
true in school and out of school. When I race in a swim meet, not only am I trying to beat my opponent, but
also I am trying to beat my personal times. Another example of internal struggle is deciding to do the right
thing when people around me are doing the wrong thing. I am trying to be the best person I can. Sometimes
that too is a struggle.

A Bar Mitzvah is a tremendous privilege and through out my life I know I will have to ask who I am and what
being Jewish means to me. Sometimes the answers will be easy; sometimes they will be more difficult. They
will require an effort, and it may take long to find them. Life is full of struggles, but life is full of achievement,
and accomplishments. After Ya'akov struggled with the stranger he got a new name and became Yisroel. That
was a great achievement. 

Today is a great achievement for me. I have reached the age of responsibility and recognition within the
Jewish community. Part of that responsibility is Tzedakah. Therefore, I wish to donate a portion of my gifts to
the American Heart Association because both of my grandfathers passed away due to heart disease.


Then finally the fight ends when the angel grants Yakov his wish. The angel says, "Thy name shall be called
no more Yakov, but Yisroel for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."


Yisroel is a fighter. Part of what it means to be a member of the house of Israel is to fight or struggle and to
prevail. Sometimes our struggles are with others, sometimes they are with ourselves, and sometimes they
are even with God.

After the fight with the stranger, and after the meeting with his brother Esau, Ya'akov is " Shalem" meaning,
"Whole". Only after overcoming adversity do we emerge whole.

To be a member of the house of Israel is not only to struggle but to become whole, with ourselves and with
God.
I would like to thank all my out of town guests who traveled to Highland Park for this special occasion. I
would also like to thank all my friends and family for sharing my simcha.

Specifically, I would like to thank my tutor Jonathan for helping me with my haftorah and maftir, Lisa Zeitchek
for helping me with my d'var torah, my sister for trying to stay out of the way, the rabbi for being my spiritual
leader, my cousin Steve for reading Torah, and last but not least my mom and dad. They both encouraged
me to work hard. My dad shared his Bar Mitzvah experience and drove me to my lessons. My Mom practiced
with me and helped me write my d'var torah. Finally I would like to wish the rabbi Happy Birthday