Toldos – Peninim on the Torah

וישטם עשיו את יעקב

Now Eisav harbored hatred toward Yaakov. (27:41)

David Hamelech dedicates an entire perek Tehillim (109) to Eisav ha’rasha, wishing that this representative of evil incarnate receive his due via serious, painful punishment. He writes about the type of sins Eisav committed, the wrongs that he did, and he sums it up with what seems to be an enigmatic detail of his sins: Yizacheir avon avosav el Hashem, v’chatas imo al timach; “May their ancestors’ wrongs be recalled by G-d, the sins of their mothers not erased” (109:14). Obviously, the literal translation and actual meaning of the pasuk do not align. The Avos and Imahos did not sin. …

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אלה תולדות יצחק בן אברהם, אברהם הולד את יצחק

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5786

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

The opening pasuk of the parsha seems redundant. If Yitzchak was Avraham’s son, then obviously Avraham was his biological father. Rashi explains that the redundancy is deliberate, to attest that Yitzchak was unmistakably Avraham Avinu’s son both biologically and spiritually. Apparently, the leitzanim, cynics, were spreading the lie that Sarah had conceived through relations with Avimelech when she was in Gerar. They claimed that, at his advanced age, Avraham could no longer have children. [They ignored Yishmael’s birth.] In order to set the record straight, Hashem formed Yitzchak’s countenance to be exactly the same as that of Avraham. No question…

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ויאמר עשו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדם הזה ויאמר יעקב מכרה כיום את בכרתך

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

Eisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me some of that very red stuff.” Yaakov said, “Sell, as this day, your birthright to me.” (25:30,31)

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…

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וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

With his hand grasping on to the heel of Eisav. (25:26)

Horav Yaakov Moshe Charlop, zl, explains the imagery of Yaakov Avinu holding onto Eisav’s heel as a metaphor that underscores the concept of limitation and restraint. A vicious dog chained to a stationary place cannot go beyond the pull of his chain. He can bark and growl and attack anything that comes within the parameter of his chain, but that is it. He is locked in place. Veritably, it often appears that Eisav is on top; he is first. Despite Eisav’s precedence in birth order, which grants him certain parameters of strength, Yaakov continues to hold on to his heel. …

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ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

Both Yitzchak Avinu and RIvkah Imeinu prayed fervently for a child. The Kaf HaChaim (281:8) cites the Sefer Chesed LaAlafim who states: “We have a kabbalah, tradition, handed down from Rav Yehudah HaChasid who taught that when one is confronted with a difficult challenge, committing to recite the Nishmas prayer (we recite Nishmas on Shabbos and Yom Tov at the end of Pesukei D’Zimra. We also recite it at the end of the Pesach seder) in the presence of a minyan is a segulah for deliverance. The tefillah is attributed to Rav Elazar Azkari, who lived in Tzfas during the…

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ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5785

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

They both prayed. Rivkah Imeinu prayed on her own behalf. Yitzchak Avinu also prayed on her behalf. He knew that, as part of Hashem’s promise to Avraham Avinu, he would be blessed with progeny. He entreated Hashem that Rivkah should be the mother of his children. Twenty years is a long time to pray for something. Apparently, they were prepared to continue praying until Rivkah conceived and gave birth to a healthy child. It was not just about having a child, but rather, they sought to serve as a link in the Patriarchal continuum which laid the foundation of the…

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ויבא עשיו מן השדה והוא עיף... ויאמר עשיו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדום האדם הזה... ויבז עשיו את הבכורה

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5784

And Eisav came in from the field… and he was exhausted… pour into me how, some of the red stuff… Eisav spurned the birthright. (29,30,34)

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…

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ויאהב יצחק את עשו... ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5784

Yitzchak loved Eisav… but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

One of the most perplexing aspects of the Yitzchak/Rivkah Yaakov/Eisav narrative is the love Yitzchak showed to Eisav. We have no doubt that Yitzchak was aware of his son’s errant behavior. Certainly, Eisav’s demeanor stood out in stark contrast to Yaakov’s behavior. The commentators grapple with this enigma, each expounding his individual interpretation of Yitzchak Avinu’s positive attitude towards Eisav. Horav Meir Rubman, zl, explains that we can apply two approaches to dealing with – and addressing – the issue of a recalcitrant son who has sadly gone off the derech, who has turned his back on religious observance. It…

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שני גוים בבטנך ושני לאמים ממעיך יפרדו... ורב יעבד צעיר

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5784

Two people are in your womb, and two nations from your womb shall separate… and the elder shall serve the younger. (25:23)

The story of Yaakov and Eisav involves complex dynamics between two brothers – two very different brothers who had totally incongruous ways of life, goals and objectives. This was basically the nevuah, prophesy, that Rivkah Imeinu received when she went to the yeshivah of Shem and Ever to seek an explanation for her difficult pregnancy. Much can be derived from the narrative which serves as a lesson concerning family relationships, personal choices and the consequences one must bear as a result of his decisions. Obviously, the entire scenario is cloaked in profound layers of esoteric nature, leaving little for us…

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ויתרצצו הבנים בקרבה ותאמר אם כן למה זה אנכי

Sruly Schnair In Toldos, 5784

The children agitated within her, and she said, “If so, why am I thus?” (25:22)

Chazal teach that vayisrotzetzu, “and they agitated,” is derived from rotz, to run. When Rivkah Imeinu passed the yeshivah of Shem and Ever, Yaakov struggled to leave; and when she passed a house of idol worship, Eisav wanted out. The Bais HaLevi asks the well-known question: We are taught that a Heavenly angel teaches the Torah to the growing fetus. If so, why would Yaakov want to escape to the yeshivah? He was learning Torah from an angel; can one ask for more? The Bais HaLevi explains that such learning is not worth it if it means being in the…

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וישטם עשיו את יעקב

Now Eisav harbored hatred toward Yaakov. (27:41)

אלה תולדות יצחק בן אברהם, אברהם הולד את יצחק

And these are the offspring of Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham begot Yitzchak. (25:19)

ויאמר עשו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדם הזה ויאמר יעקב מכרה כיום את בכרתך

Eisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me some of that very red stuff.” Yaakov said, “Sell, as this day, your birthright to me.” (25:30,31)

וידו אוחזת בעקב עשו

With his hand grasping on to the heel of Eisav. (25:26)

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife. (25:21)

ויבא עשיו מן השדה והוא עיף... ויאמר עשיו אל יעקב הלעיטני נא מן האדום האדם הזה... ויבז עשיו את הבכורה

And Eisav came in from the field… and he was exhausted… pour into me how, some of the red stuff… Eisav spurned the birthright. (29,30,34)

ויאהב יצחק את עשו... ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Yitzchak loved Eisav… but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

שני גוים בבטנך ושני לאמים ממעיך יפרדו... ורב יעבד צעיר

Two people are in your womb, and two nations from your womb shall separate… and the elder shall serve the younger. (25:23)

ויתרצצו הבנים בקרבה ותאמר אם כן למה זה אנכי

The children agitated within her, and she said, “If so, why am I thus?” (25:22)

YEARS

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