[Avodah] The Goal of History

[Yitzchok Levine]

The following is from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis 32

27 And he said: Let me go, for day is breaking. 
But [Ya’akov] said: I will not let you go unless you bless me.

Ya’akov’s adversary can fight only as long as night is spread over the
earth. Indeed, as long as night prevails, he appears to be — if not the
victor, then — the one with the upper hand. But as soon as day breaks,
positions are reversed, and it is Ya’akov who sets the terms for the cessation
of the struggle. The condition he sets for ending the struggle, the
purpose of the whole encounter, is the recognition that Ya’akov is deserving
of blessing and support, not hostility and hatred. Indeed, only
through this recognition will the nations bring blessings also upon themselves.

Ya’akov says: Throughout the long night, you attacked me, you
regarded me as an obstacle to be removed and destroyed through
ceaseless struggle. Now that day is breaking, you are ready to quit.
But I will not cease to struggle, until you grant me a blessing and
recognition.

The goal of history is not that Ya’akov should be forced to assimilate
among the nations, but the reverse. The nations must be
brought to recognize that their own happiness depends on those
principles to which Ya’akov has adhered throughout all the struggles.
The nations, too, should humbly strive toward these principles, further
them with all the means at their disposal, and regard them as their
sole objective. 
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