Parshas Toldos

This week’s Parsha is called, Parshas Toldos.

In this week’s Parsha Rivka (Rabecca, Yitzchak’s wife,) became pregnant and was told by Hashem that she would be having twins. It is brought down that whenever Rivka would walk by a study hall where Torah was learned, one of the babies inside of her kicked and almost tried to get out. Also every time Rivka would walk by a house of idolatry the other baby inside of her would kick and try to get out.

After a few times of this happening she realized that her two babies would grow up to be two total opposites 1 dedicated to Torah and the other to avoda zora (idolatry) - and it was so.

The older of the twins, Aisav (Esau) which Yitzchak favored because of the way Aisav always honored his father, Rashi explains, was named Aisav because it meant “fully developed.” When Aisav was he born and covered with hair. We also learn in the passuk that Aisav came out of his mother red in color. This was significant because even from the start Aisav was going to be a hunter and of have the nature a murderer. And Aisav did develop into a murderer. However, he did have one redeeming quality, which was the same quality that seemed to fool or “blind” Yitzchak to Aisav’s true nature and that was that he remained machbir (careful) on the mitzvah of Kibud Av (honoring one’s father).

Rivka’s younger twin, whom, she favored and through prophecy was aware that the future of the B’nai Yisroel (children of Israel) would come through him was named Yaakov (or Jacob.) He was named Yaakov because when Aisav came out of his mother first, Yaakov was holding onto Aisav’s heel and the name Yaakov translates to “heel.”

And in what I feel is one of the more difficult scenarios to understand: One day Aisav came home exhausted from hunting in the fields, and he noticed that his younger brother Yaakov was making lentil soup. Aisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me now, some of that very red stuff for I am exhausted.” Before Yaakov gave him any soup he said to him that he would only give him the soup, on the condition that Aisav give his birthright to Yaakov. And Aisav agreed in a way that demonstrated disdain for the birthright and the deal was made. Unfortunately, for Aisav he was focused only on the present and gave no thought to the future. Later, when Yitzchak was blind and dying, he was prepared to give a final brocha (blessing) to his B’chor (first born son – Aisav) and he requested from Aisav a meal of fine meat. Now this is where I find it challenging. So, Aisav goes out into the fields to hunt some game for his father and while Aisav is hunting Rivka convinces Yaakov to bring some meat from the family’s flock and than while she prepared it he should dress up as Aisav by covering himself with hairy animal skins and bring the meal to his blind father Yitzchak and convince him that he is the B’chor and should receive the blessing. While this is an obvious case of deception (which is not a Torah value) we learn that it was necessary for the establishment of the nation that would receive the Torah.

So Yaakov with some reservation, followed his mother’s instruction and was able to pull it off and received his father’s blessing. When Aisav came back with the food for his father and found out that Yaakov already received what he felt was rightfully his, he became enraged and from that point on, he hated and intended to kill his younger brother. This hatred would last many years. Meanwhile, Yaakov left home to hide (on his mother’s instructions).

May we learn two very important lessons. First, to take every situation and say to ourselves “Is this the best decision for me now and in the long run?” Second, we have now seen in two different Parshas, situations where the Jewish Mother had a different perspective than her husband on an important issue (in Parshas Vayiera with Sarah making Avroham send away Hagar and Yishmael and now with Rivka recognizing which son was destined to father the Torah nation) and both times both matriarchs were right.

May Hashem give us the sachel (knowledge) to make the best decisions for now and the future! And may we learn that it is critical that we hear the advice of our Ayshes Chayils (Jewish wives that fear G-d) -Amen!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for next week’s Parsha called, Vayeitzei (VAH-YAY-TZAY)!