GEN1400 Do not eat the sinew of the thigh-vein. During a fearsome nighttime struggle, Esav’s angel sought to eliminate Yaakov and his descendants, but succeeded only in wounding Yaakov (in the thigh, Ed.). The sun, however, cast its rays on Yaakov’s wound, curing him. This event is a metaphor for the Jewish People's existence in Exile. Widely scattered throughout the world, the Jewish nation will suffer many types of hardships and ordeals at the hands of the peoples amongst whom they are dispersed. Each Jew should know that even so, the Jewish nation will survive and the redemption will come. By keeping this mitzvah and internalizing its message, Jews gain reassurance. Thus strengthened, the nation is better able to retain its faith, righteousness and trust in Hashem.