Yaakov Latched onto Eisav’s Heel to Eliminate the Foot of the Klipah of Eisav
We now have cause to rejoice! We wondered what was so significant about Yaakov coming into this world while grasping onto Eisav’s heel: "וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו". It was so profound that HKB”H named him "יעקב" on account of this act with the addition of the letter “yud.”
In keeping with what we have discussed, here is the explanation. Yaakov Avinu perceived while yet in his mother’s womb that Eisav had a penchant for avodah-zarah, and he was one of the two legs of the klipah. Hence, when Rivkah passed by the study-halls of Shem and Eiver, Yaakov became energetic and tried to get out to study Torah. He understood that it was incumbent upon him to subjugate the klipah of Eisav.
Therefore, when Yaakov was born immediately after Eisav, he performed this crucial act: “He emerged with his hand grasping onto Eisav’s heel”—to annul the klipah of Eisav with the kedushah of his Torah. We can find an allusion to this in the word עק"ב (heel). Its letters in reverse order are an acronym for ב'יטול ק'ליפת ע'שו—elimination of the klipah of Eisav. HKB”H, however, Who knows what will happen in the future, foresaw Eisav’s future union with Yishmael, and that together they would form the two legs of the klipah. Therefore: "ויקרא שמו יעקב"—HKB”H named him יעק"ב, with the addition of the “yud.” Thus, He conveyed to Yaakov that with the kedushah of his Torah, he possessed the power to eliminate not only the klipah of Eisav but also the klipah of Yishmael. For, יעק"ב with the addition of the letter “yud” is an acronym for ב'יטול ק'ליפות ע'שו י'שמעאל—the elimination of the klipos of Eisav and Yishmael.
It gives me great pleasure to conclude this essay with what Chazal expound in the Midrash Tanchuma (Bereishis 1) on the passuk quoted above: "אשריכם זורעי על כל מים, אלו עוסקי תורה שנמשלו למים... משלחי רגל השור, זה משיח בן יוסף שנמשל לשור, וחמור זה משיח בן דוד, שנאמר עני ורוכב על חמור". “Praiseworthy are you who sow upon all waters”: This refers to those who study Torah, which is compared to water . . . “who send away the feet of the ox” refers to Mashiach ben Yosef, who is compared to an ox (see above), “and the donkey” refers to Mashiach ben David, as it states (Zechariah 9, 9): “A humble man, riding on a donkey.”
According to what we learned from the Arizal, we can explain the matter as follows: Since the final galus is a combination of galus Edom and galus Yishmael, the two legs of the klipah, the elucidation of the Midrash teaches us: "אשריכם זורעי על כל מים, אלו עוסקי תורה שנמשלו למים, שנאמר הוי כל צמא לכו למים"—that in the merit of Yisrael studying Torah “like an ox to a yoke and a donkey to a burden,” HKB”H will send the two legs of kedushah, Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David. Hence, the passage of the Midrash concludes: "משלחי רגל השור, זה משיח בן יוסף שנמשל לשור, וחמור זה משיח בן דוד, שנאמר עני ורוכב על חמור"—they will subjugate and eliminate the union of Eisav and Yishmael. Thus, the supplication we recite in Shemoneh Esreh will be fulfilled: "ומלכות הרשעה והזדים תעקר ותשבר ותמגר ותכניע במהרה בימינו"—may You speedily uproot, crush, cast down, and humble the evil regime and the malicious sinners, swiftly in our times. Amen.
