This week's parshah tells us that Yaakov was given a new name - Yisrael. This isn't the first time new names are given in the Torah. Remember when HaShem changed Avram's name to Avraham and Sarai's name to Sarah?

There is a difference here. When HaShem changed Avram's name, He said, "And your name will not be called Avram any more." Indeed, from then on the Torah always calls our first forefather Avraham. In the Talmud, our sages tell us that this is a clear lesson that no one should call him Avram again.

When Yaakov's name was changed, the Torah also says, "And your name will not be called Yaakov." Yet we see that the Torah itself continues to call him Yaakov. Sometimes he is called Yaakov, and sometimes, Yisrael. And in the Talmud our sages also use both names - Yaakov and Yisrael.

Why?

Names in general and especially the names of our forefathers, are not only given so that people know what to call each other. The names of our forefathers teach us about their service of HaShem and guide us so we can follow in their footsteps. We can learn lessons from both names, Yaakov and Yisrael.

The root of the name Yaakov can also point to trickery. Sometimes, in order to overcome our yetzer hora, we have to trick him. If a person wants to trick someone else, he doesn't tell him clearly what he is planning to do. He pretends to goes along with the other person but he ends up doing just what he wants.

The yetzer hora often comes and tells us, "Look, you have to go to eat; you must go have a rest; you need to take time out to play." At times, it appears that we are going along with him, but really we are tricking him. He thinks that we are doing all of these activities because we are enjoying gashmiyus and this is what is most important to us. But it's not true! We're eating, resting and playing, because this is what keeps our bodies healthy and relaxed so we can serve HaShem properly. It's part of the mitzvah, Vinishmartem me'od linafshoseichem - that we should protect our health. So it looks like we're listening to the yetzer hora, but we are really not.

The name Yisrael points to a different lesson. It is connected to the word s'rorah - to be in charge. There are times when we must show the yetzer hora that we don't have to trick him to overcome him. We show him that we are in charge, and we don't pay any attention to what he says. We do what we have to do, fulfilling HaShem's will with the pride and strength of a person in charge.

(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. III, p. 796)