Esau Had the Ability to Bring Ultimate Redemption

In this kabbalistic reading, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi explains that Jacob recognized Esau’s unique strengths and understood that achieving the world’s ultimate destiny required combining those qualities with his own. Jacob was sure that he had successfully redeemed the sparks of holiness necessary to herald in the Ultimate Redemption.

This profound spiritual achievement affected their reconciliation, culminating in the kiss that Esau bestowed upon Jacob. Ultimately, however, Esau was not ready. He was still very much entrenched in the physicality of this world—as represented by the 400 men that accompanied him.