Vayishlach
The Gemara brings Rav Kafra said: one who calls Avraham, Avram, is over on an aseh, as the passuk says, “והיה שמך אברהם.” Rav Elazar says one is over on a lav as the passuk says “ולא יקרא עוד שמך אברם.” The Gemara asks: if so one who calls Yaakov, Yaakov, should also be over on a lav, for the passuk says “ולא יקרא עוד שמך יעקב”? The Gemara answers that the Torah called him Yaakov afterwards, therefore we can still call him Yaakov. We do not have to call him Yisrael.
The Steipler zatzal asks: why in truth was Avraham’s original name uprooted whereas Yaakov’s was not? He answers that possibly, because Terach named his son Avram, whereas Yitzchok called Yaakov, Yaakov. It is fitting and understandable to uproot the name which Terach gave and not the name which Yitzchok gave.
The Steipler brings a second answer: Hashem called Avraham, Avraham because ofאב המון גוים נתתיך, meaning Hashem gave Avraham rulership as a present forever and ever. The name Yisrael was given by a malach. The malach explains this name was given because “you were saved and won over a malach, and Esav and Lavan.” These victories were only for a short time. There was no promise that there wouldn’t be any more tzaros or pain. In truth there were more tzaros such as by Dina and Yosef. Therefore the name Yaakov wasn’t uprooted; Yisrael was just added on.
Yaakov was called Yisroel by the malach after the war against the sar shel Esav. The Ramban explains that what happened with Yaakov and Esav is a hint to the future generations. Esav wanted to destroy and uproot Yaakov, and so too now the nations continuously plot against us. Hashem saved Yaakov and so too Hashem will save us. However, Yaakov was injured by the sar shel Esav. This is a remez to the shmad, which happens to groups of Klal Yisroel.
The Ramban says the victory over Esav wasn’t completed then; only when Moshiach comes will it be complete. When Klal Yisroel suffers from Esav we are referred to as Yaakov. Therefore until Moshiach comes the name Yaakov will not be uprooted.
May Hashem bring Moshiach with the complete victory of Yisroel.
