When Eisav’s younger twin was born, he came out holding Eisav’s heel ( ָﬠבֵק) so they named him: בֹקֲﬠַי Yaakov. The heel is the lowest part of the human; always in contact with the ground and the dirt. People need to wash their feet, especially in the olden days, when they wore sandals or even went barefoot. The heel is the opposite of the head, which symbolizes “thought” and “greatness” and being “on top” and not on the bottom.
Imagine having a name Yaakov, which symbolizes the lowest part of his big brother, Eisav’s (smelly) foot! He doesn’t even have his own essence; he is just a part of Eisav HaRasha, and the lowest part! Indeed, Chazal say that Eisav had a nice name. “Eisav” means: ָﬠשׂוּי all made. He already had hair (and a beard! and teeth!) Although it seems like Eisav is at an advantage over Yaakov, yet.... Yaakov was born in a struggling position. He was trying to get out first. A person who is struggling, even if he’s in the lowest situation, will come out ahead, since struggling is the true greatness of all mankind. Miriam’s name means bitter ( רָמ) since she was born in bitter times (וּרֲרָמְיַו םֶהיֵיַּח תֶא). However, her name is perfect, since being bitter means having a need to grow and become sweet.
There is no true ugly beginning (or name) in a person, since it just means that you need to improve on your past. And Miriam ended up singing: ריִשָׁי זָא. We believe: דיֵבָﬠְד יאַמ לָכּ דיֵבָﬠ בַטְל אָנָמְחַר Whatever Hashem does, is surely best. So evil is actually great, since it means that you can overcome and become good.
The Person WITHOUT a Struggle Has the Worst Problem and Is the TRUE “Nebach”
Starting off bad is not a Chisaron at all, since: ויָרֻﬠְנִּמ עַר םָדָאָה בֵל רֶצֵי יִכּ אכ ח חנ a person is born with negativity. Aderaba, if you don’t have a struggle then you have the worst problem; you’re a "Malach", who ends up without any Schar, since: אָרֲﬠַצ םוּפְלאָרְגַא אבות ה כב the reward increases according to your effort. No pain, no gain! On the contrary, the more pain, the more gain; and only “bitter” (Miriam) was Zoche sing in the Torah, which is the sweetest of the sweet!
And Yaakov ends up with twelve Shevotim. He takes over the world, and becomes “Yisroel” which means being “on top”. The Sefer Shomer Emunim says that difficulties were created in order to overcome them. This is the Simcha of your entire life (those unwanted Pecklach). The true “nebach” is the person without a Peckel.
Overcoming The Filth of Your Nature Is the Thrill of Your Existence
ןֵתֶּאָוםִיָרְצִמ וּדְרָי ויָנָבוּ בֹקֲﬠַיְו וֹתוֹא תֶשֶׁרָל ריִﬠֵשׂ רַה תֶא וָשֵׂﬠְל ד דכ עשוהי Eisav settled comfortably in Har Se’ir, while Yaakov and his sons went down to Galus in Mitzrayim. What did Eisav get out of Har Se’ir? Yaakov and his sons went down to Mitzrayim and forever they created a world of great Yeshuos which are all Zecher L’yetzias Mitzrayim.
"Adam” also means: ַא ַד ֶמ ְל ה ֶﬠ ְליוֹ ן I will be similar to Hashem. And only on top-soil can things grow. We don’t even mind being called “heel” or “bitter” for the rest of our lives, since overcoming problems is the life-beat of a human. ˃יֶיַּח איִה יִכּ ףֶרֶתּ לַא רָסוּמַּבּ קֵזֲחַה משלי ד יג Hold on tight to Mussar and don’t let go; it is your life! And every human is forever called an “Adam” which means: ַא ָד ָמה ground and dirt; and there is nothing wrong with being “Mr. Schmutz”, since overcoming the Schmutz of your nature is the thrill of your existence.
In fact, your past baggage is the glory of your existence and your claim to fame. People don’t respect a person with big pecklach, since those people aren’t “Mussar types”, and Kavod and success dominates their Hashkafos (opinions); not growth and striving.
Sometimes We Must Learn How to Be Bold and Assertive
The: ָשׁ ֵפ ְבּ ל ֶט ַב ע born Shafel is NOT allowed to be “Mr. Good Guy” and Mr. Ayin Tova, who is always admiring all the other: וּמ ְצ ָל ִח םי (successful people) of his life. He has to overcome his weak and feeble side, and become super ambitious; first in thought, and gradually more and more in action.
The Velt says: “Nice guys finish last”. Often, people are super nice and Eidel just like the old-time Baalei Mussar; but in truth, they need a totally different M'halech. They need to be assertive and tough, instead of being overly involved in: ַחוּר לַפְשׁ יֵוֱה דֹאְמ דֹאְמ אבות ד ד being a big Anav, which comes way too easily for them. Instead, they need to be overly involved in: םִיָמָשַּׁבֶּשׁ ˃יִבָא ןוֹצְר תוֹשֲׂﬠַל רֵמָנַּכּ זַﬠ יֵוֱהאבות ה כ (being BOLD as a leopard, in the service of Hashem) which is a big job for them, and needs many, many small steps, until they lose that ongoing inferiority complex.
Of course, we all need both Chazal’s (to be bold as a leopard, and yet to be a big Anav), and you need a Rebbe to show you when to do Shiflus, and when it’s time for: ַﬠזוּת boldness.
