26:42 “וזכרתי את בריתי יעקוב”
“I will remember My covenant with Yaakov.” Rashi says that the name יעקוב is spelled מלא, in its full form, with the letter ו' in five places in Tanach, and אליה is written five times חסר, without the ו' at the end of his name. Yaakov took a letter from the name of Eliyahu as a security, so that Eliyahu will come and herald the Geulah of his children, Klal Yisroel.
What is the meaning of this Rashi? Why did Yaakov take the letter ו' from Eliyahu five times, and why did he think that perhaps Eliyahu would not come if he did not take security from him?
The Navi Malachi tells us “הנה אנכי שולח לכם את אליה הנביא” – that Eliyahu will be the one who will be sent to us to herald the Geulah, and it says in Tehillim 43:3 “שלח אורך ואמתך” – “Send forth Your light and Your truth” – ואמתך, “and Your truth,” refers to Eliyahu Hanavi. Eliyahu was an איש אמת, a man of staunch truth. It says in Mishlei 23:23, “אמת קנה ואל תמכור” – “Buy truth and never sell it” - that Hakodosh Baruch Hu does only truth, and does not go לפנים משורת הדין– accepting less than what is demanded by the law, the absolute truth. The way for Klal Yisroel to bring the Geulah is through the Midah of Emes, the letter ו' that Yaakov secured for Klal Yisroel in Golus.
Yaakov Avinu knew that Eliyahu Hanavi was the one who was going to be the harbinger of Mashiach. Yaakov Avinu also knew that Eliyahu Hanavi was the ultimate איש אמת, as Yaakov Avini was also an איש אמת. Yaakov Avinu feared that Eliyahu would only call upon Mashiach if Klal Yisroel were completely deserving of it, and if they are not, he would potentially never bring it. Thus, Yaakov Avinu took a security from Eliyahu, so that Eliyahu Hanavi would want it back, and thus will certainly bring the Geulah. The letter ו' which Yaakov Avinu took represents a finger, and he took five of them, which is a complete hand. It was a handshake between Yaakov Avinu and Eliyahu Hanavi that would ensure that Eliyahu Hanavi will bring the Geulah. Does this mean that Yaakov Avinu was not an איש אמת? Chas v’shalom to say such a thing. Yaakov Avinu was an איש אמת and Eliyahu Hanavi was an איש אמת. Yaakov Avinu was teaching Eliyahu Hanavi that even an איש אמת can at times be somewhat bending to help bring forth the ultimate truth when the entire world will “know Hakodosh Baruch Hu.” Thus, although Klal Yisroel may not be worthy of the Geulah, may we nevertheless be zoche to see the Geulah Shleimah במהרה בימינו, so that the true Emes can come forth.
