The Torah includes an array of dietary laws: the distinction between kosher and non-kosher animals, the rules of shechita relating to the slaughtering of kosher animals, the prohibition against mixing meat and milk, and others. Yet only one such law appears in the entire book of Genesis, and it is as strange as it is unique. To understand it, we must consider the narrative in which it is embedded.
After Jacob secures Isaac’s blessing—incurring Esau’s fury in the process—he flees for his life. Twenty years later, he returns home uncertain of what awaits him. Unsure whether Esau still seeks revenge, Jacob prepares carefully and methodically: he sends scouts and gathers intelligence, divides his camp in case one is attacked, prays fervently for divine help, and sends ahead generous gifts to signal humility and reconciliation.
Then comes the night that will redefine him.
Just before facing Esau, Jacob escorts his family across the ford of the Jabbok along with their belongings. Left entirely alone in the darkness, he is suddenly confronted by a mysterious figure—an unnamed “man,” later understood to be a divine being—who wrestles with him until daybreak. How such a struggle could last so long is left unexplained.
When Jacob finally gains the upper hand, the being, in an attempt to break free, strikes Jacob on the hip, dislocating it and leaving him limping. Still, Jacob refuses to release his assailant without a blessing. In response, the being renames him “Yisrael”- Israel, declaring: “for you have striven with divine and human beings, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29).
The story ends with an unexpected ruling: “Therefore, the children of Israel to this day do not eat the sciatic nerve (gid hanasheh) that is on the socket of the hip, because Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the thigh muscle” (Genesis 32:33).
The Torah here prohibits the consumption of the sciatic nerve, which was understood to include the right and left hind legs of kosher animals, such as cows, sheep, and goats. Because removing this nerve is highly intricate, many Jewish communities historically avoided eating the hindquarters entirely, selling that portion instead.
What is the meaning behind this bizarre prohibition?
First, the sciatic nerve is essential for forward movement. The angel’s blow is a symbolic attempt to stop Jacob in his tracks, to halt his destiny. Likewise, throughout history, our enemies have tried to impede our progress—targeting our communities, our families, our values, and our very right to a future, whether in the Land of Israel or elsewhere. The prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve is a permanent reminder: forces may try to halt us, but they cannot stop us. We may limp, but we do not fall.
Second, the prohibition underscores that Jewish identity is forged through struggle. Jacob becomes “Israel” because, although he is injured, he perseveres. The prohibition against eating gid hanasheh teaches that wounds do not diminish us; they shape us. Our pain becomes part of our moral spine and our national resilience. We may limp, but we continue walking—with dignity, faith, and determination.
In the wake of October 7th, the Jewish people once again carry a profound wound: the trauma of the worst attack in Israel’s history, the heartbreak of destroyed families and communities, and the ongoing threats we continue to face.
Yet we also witness remarkable courage and slow, steady healing. We rebuild homes, restore routines, care for one another, and dedicate ourselves to securing a safer, stronger future for the generations that follow.
We struggle, yet we persevere, because that is who are—”Yisrael”.
Shabbat Shalom.
