Parashas Toldos

There is a lot of drama in Parashas Toldos. Rivka was in a lot of pain from her pregnancy. She felt like there was a war going on inside of her. When she passed by a yeshiva, she felt as if the baby was struggling to escape. (I guess optimistically speaking, it sounds like a good thing, because that would imply the baby wanted to learn Torah.) On the other hand, when she passed by a place of idol-worshipers, she felt the baby again struggling to escape. "This pain is unbearable, why did I want this pregnancy?" She asked herself. She went to Shaim for an answer, and through divine inspiration, he replied, "There are two nations in your womb, and two Kingdoms will separate from within you; one to his evil ways, and the other to his wholesomeness."[1] (Not the type of news a mother wants to hear about her children.)



Then Yaakov and Eisav were born. Up until the age of 13, they were both learning in yeshiva. After that, they each went their own way. Yaakov continued learning in different yeshivas, while Eisav went out hunting animals. [2] The next topic in the Parasha is Avraham's death, followed by Eisav selling his birthright to Yaakov. Eisav came back tired and hungry from a hard day of hunting. He saw Yaakov cooking lentils, a mourner's dish [3], and asked him for it. Yaakov, feeling intimidated wondered, "how is it that this wicked man who denies olam haba, be the future head of the household? He isn't worthy of offering sacrifices for the household!"[4] Yaakov therefore explained to Eisav that since he was making the lentil dish, a mitzvah of kibud av v'em (honoring one's parents), the only way to give it away was by acquiring another mitzva. Buying Eisav's birthright definitely fell under the category of a mitzva, and so Yaakov sold this lentil dish. [5]



Later on, Yitchak loses his eye sight, and is prevented by Hashem from blessing Eisav. Rivka commanded Yaakov, "bring me two young goats, in order to cook it the way your father likes it, and serve it to him. After he finishes eating the meal, he will give you Eisav's brachas." Yaakov was worried because Eisav was hairy, and Yaakov wasn't. Rivka gave him Eisav's special garment, and the skins of the young goats. She placed them on his arms and the smooth part of his neck.



We see that this ploy worked and Yaakov received Eisav's blessings from Yitzchak. When Eisav found out that his bracha was given to his brother, he was enraged. Now, realize we are talking about Eisav here. Someone who didn't care about keeping the Torah, and even denied Hashem's hashgacha (providence). [6] Why was he so emotional about not receiving his brachas? Eisav doesn't seem like the sensitive type, and yet the posuk says he 'wailed a most loud and bitter cry.' [7] We see, there must be something special about getting a bracha. Eisav begged Yitzchak for a bracha. "Please, I will take anything! There must be something for me too!" he exclaimed. "Although he is a rasha (evil)," Hashem said to Yitzchak, "he shall not have wept in vain. Bless him!" [8]



A lesson I got from Parashas Toldos is the importance of a bracha. We take them for granted. If Eisav wept over it, there must be something to it. He didn't give up, until Yitzchak gave him something. I've noticed that when I give people brachas, they reply back "thank you." I always tell them, it was a bracha, not a compliment. You should answer "amen." If I'm lucky, I sometimes get a "v'chen lomar" (you too) in return. I was always told that you can learn something from anyone. Even from a person who isn't exactly the best role model. Eisav was a rasha, but we see when it came to receiving a bracha, he was makpid (stringent.) He knew the importance it held, and cried until he got one.



I give us all a bracha that we should fulfill the Torah and Hashem's commandments, and by doing that, may we find favor in our Creator's Eyes.



Have a wonderful shabbos,

Nisso





[1] Rashi 25: 22-24

[2] Bereshis Rabba 63: 14-16

[3] Baba Basra 16

[4] Midrash Agada 25:29

[5] Tosfos HaRash

[6] Zohar 228 Vayechi

[7] Bereshis 27:34 (translation taken from Metsuda Chumash)

[8] Midrash Tanchuma