In Kaifeng, a city in China, there used to be a street called “The Lane of the Sinew Plucking Religion”.
I’m assuming it rolls off the tongue in Chinese.
Which religion is being referred to with this pithy statement?
Why Judaism of course.
In this week’s Torah portion of VaYishlach, our forefather Jacob experiences many challenges. He is poised to reconnect with his brother Esau, and that is an experience he is not looking forward to having.
They parted on bad terms with Esau resolved to murder Jacob, resulting in a quick exit on Jacob’s part.
Now after an absence of 20 years, Jacob is coming home and he expects that Esau will keep good on his promise.
Jacob is afraid.
But not only was he going to have to battle his brother on a physical plane, there was also a spiritual fight that needed to take place. And so the night before meeting Esau, Jacob fights the angel of Esau. He emerges victorious but not without a wound.
In the process of vanquishing the angel of Esau Jacob was left with an injured thigh.
Therefore we have a Biblical commandment to commemorate that incident and we are not allowed to eat the sciatic nerve of an animal.
Hence the catchy name of the boulevard in China.
What is the deeper meaning of this Mitzva?
The Sefer HaChinuch, a 13th scholarly work which details the 613 commandments and explains the reasons behind them states, that the purpose of this commandment is to hint to the Jewish people that when we are in exile we will experience many difficulties from the nations of the world, especially from Esau’s descendants. But we should remain secure that although we may be injured, we are not lost.
At some point in the future, we will be redeemed from these trials and tribulations. Therefore, we need to remain strong in the face of these challenges and maintain our faith.

Agam Berger is a young Israeli woman who endured the most awful modern day tribulation as a hostage in Gaza.
Taken captive by murderers, Agam chose to stand up to her challenges with faith.
She credits her faith for helping her cope during captivity and she quotes the words of Psalms
“I have chosen the path of faith”.
In our Parsha we see how Jacob is fearful.
But as Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi reminds us, the women of the Torah are fearless.
For example, Rebecca, Jacob’s mother is a symbol of fearlessness in the face of adversity. She told Jacob not to worry about any potential curses that might be directed at him because she would absorb them for him.
She says”your curse will be on me my son”.
The word in Hebrew for “on me” is עלי or alei.
Those three letters are an acronym for Esau, Laban and Yosef, three of the people who would cause Jacob so much pain.
So through his travails, although he was afraid, Jacob found strength from his mother’s courage.
Today I had the privilege of meeting Israeli minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli who shared a profound insight.
He said “Ima (Mom) is the home and Ima is the heart”.
“The Jewish woman has the power of fearlessness in her genes” R Yemima says. “She has the ability to remain strong, to keep moving ahead.”
Those are the genes bequeathed to us, the DNA we need to tap into during difficult times, times of challenge and tribulation.
Jacob might have been injured, but his Mother’s teachings kept him going.
That is the source of Agam’s courage and faith.
We should tell the Chinese, they might want to name a street in honor of strong Jewish women.
Maybe Agam’s Avenue of Assurance and Faith
Now that has a nice ring to it!
Shabbat Shalom and so much love.