Toldos – Peninim on the Torah

ויאהב יצחק את עשיו כי ציד בפיו ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Yitzchak loved Eisav for game was in his mouth, but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

People see what they want to see and are impressed by what they have never seen before. Someone growing up in an all American community, accustomed to the sports hype on Sunday, will be impressed upon walking into a yeshivah bais hamedrash and observing hundreds of students studying Torah, completely oblivious to the excitement and intrigue that grips the secular world. Likewise, one whose lifestyle begins with early morning davening, followed by a seder and then either participating in the workforce or in the bais hamedrash, will have difficulty contemplating the secular culture which encourages one to engage in as…

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ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5775

The children agitated within her. (25:22)

Rashi cites Chazal who explain that the word Vayisrotzetzu, “And they (the children) agitated” is derived from the word rotz, to run. When Rivkah Imeinu passed the Yeshivah of Shem and Eivar, Yaakov “ran” and struggled to go forth; and when she passed a house of idol worship, Eisav “ran” to go out. Each child had a certain proclivity representative of the cosmic forces within Creation – forces that are not connected to normal personality development, but transcend it. Yaakov Avinu gravitated towards the bais hamedrash, while Eisav was more comfortable in the house of idol worship. As they grew…

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ויעתר יצחק לד' לנוכח אשתו כי עקרה היא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5775

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. (25:21)

Rashi interprets the word va’yeetar to mean that Yitzchak Avinu prayed abundantly for Rivkah. He never felt “I prayed enough.” He finished one prayer; he immediately began to pray again. The first prayer was not accepted; perhaps the next one would be accepted. The fact that, according to the laws of nature, it was biologically impossible for Rivkah Imeinu to conceive, he, nonetheless, understood that his function was to daven, the rest was up to Hashem to decide. The ratzon HaBorei, will of the Almighty, is that we daven. If we care enough about an issue, then we cannot give…

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ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו כי עקרה היא ויעתר לו ד' ותהר רבקה אשתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Toldos, 5775

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by him, and his wife, Rivkah, conceived. (25:21)

Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by him – by Yitzchak Avinu. Lavan had given Rivkah Imeinu a blessing, Achoseinu, at hayi l’alfei revavah, “Our sister, may you come to be the thousands of myriads” (Bereishis 24:60). It seems like a “reasonable” blessing. The fact that Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by Yitzchak is a clear indication that Lavan’s blessing was unacceptable. Why? A blessing is a blessing – regardless of its source – or is this not true? The Melitzer Rebbe, Shlita, contends that a bircas rasha einah ela kelalah, “The blessing bestowed by a wicked person is…

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ויאהב יצחק את עשיו כי ציד בפיו ורבקה אהבת את יעקב

Yitzchak loved Eisav for game was in his mouth, but Rivkah loved Yaakov. (25:28)

ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה

The children agitated within her. (25:22)

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנוכח אשתו כי עקרה היא

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. (25:21)

ויעתר יצחק לד' לנכח אשתו כי עקרה היא ויעתר לו ד' ותהר רבקה אשתו

Yitzchak entreated Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. Hashem allowed Himself to be entreated by him, and his wife, Rivkah, conceived. (25:21)

YEARS

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