I once got a very condescending and vilifying email regarding a dvar Torah of mine. I had 3 options:

1) Respond in a similar manner,
2) Ignore it,
3) Apologize for being a little too ambiguous. I chose the 3rd option.

“And he (Yaacov) bowed down (to Eisav) seven times…” (Biraishis 33:3-4) Rashi says that when Eisav saw how much honor Yaacov was giving him, his compassion for Yaacov poured forth. The Ohr Yahal explains that even though Yaacov might have been able to defeat Eisav, he felt it would be a bigger victory to have Eisav love him. (This way, everyone was a winner.)

Real victories are thought out, not just the first impulse that comes to us!!

Have a great Shabbos!!

Rabbi Chaim Flom

Text Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Chaim Flom and Torah.org