The Kiss of Esau
When Jacob left home, his brother Esau wanted to kill him for
taking the blessing of their father, Isaac, as discussed above. Years
later when they finally meet – the night after Jacob wrestles with
the angel – the Torah describes the meeting: “Esau ran towards
him [Jacob], embraced him, fell upon his neck, and kissed him and
they wept” (Genesis 33:4). There are a series of dots above the word
“and kissed him,” ( וַיִֹשָֹׁקֵֹהֹוֹּ )ֹ. Rashi explains that there is a difference
of opinion among the Sages as to the meaning of these dots. The
first opinion is that the dots indicate that he was not sincere when he
kissed him (and in fact, according to one Midrash, tried to bite him).
He then brings the opinion of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who states
that although it is an immutable fact that Esau hates Jacob, in this
particular case, Esau’s compassion for his brother was truly aroused
and he actually kissed him with all his heart. The series of dots above
this word in the verse can thus be understood to allude to the fact
that Esau was conflicted as to how to relate to his brother after all
those years and, in some way, harbored both conflicting emotions.
