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On the surface, to the uneducated reader, the story of Yaakov Avinu purchasing the bechorah, birthright, from Eisav seems highly enigmatic.  Horav David Povarsky, zl, compares it to a shrewd man who saw a young child playing with a bag of diamonds. The man offered to give the young boy a bag of chocolates in exchange for the diamonds.  The boy jumped at the idea and readily made the trade.  Clearly, we would look askance at such a person.  How could he have the temerity to take such advantage of an unknowing child?  Eisav was clueless concerning the value of…

We tend to view one’s present offensive behavior without considering the root cause that led to this indiscretion. From character failing to acting out ignominiously, it often takes time as the person evolves from moral deficiency to offensive action. Just as one does not achieve success overnight, he, likewise, does not suddenly descend to the pit of iniquity. Perhaps if we would take heed of the root cause, we might be able to nip it in the bud. Eisav is a perfect example of this. Chazal (Bava Basra 16b) teach that the fateful day that Eisav returned exhausted and famished…