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From the Rabbi:
Parashat Toldot opens with a beautiful scene of Yitzchak praying deeply for children "facing" or in "the presence of" his wife. Rashi tells us that they would pray together, each in their own corner. We saw last week how, in finding Rivka, Eliezer was intent in selecting a woman who would exemplify the trait of Gemilut Chasadim, proactive kindness. This was in order to balance out Yitzchak who, unlike his extroverted father Abraham who sought to publicize the Name of Hashem, was more of an introvert, excelling in a path of serving Hashem through yir'ah and inward devotion.
The Torah also tells us that Yitzchak loved Rivka, and presumably she loved him equally. One can imagine Yitzchak praying for a son who would be just like his beloved wife, outgoing and proactive. Meanwhile Rivka prays for a son like her husband, inwardly devout and content being alone with God. With the two of them each praying for a child like their spouse, it's perhaps not surprising that they conceived twins because of their twin prayers.
As it turns out that the children turned out just as they had asked. (25:27) When the boys grew up, Esav became a skillful trapper, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob became a mild man, raising livestock And so naturally, (25:28) Isaac loved Esav because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loves Jacob. Yitzchak saw in Esav the traits he loved about Rivka and Rivka saw Yitzchak in Yaakov.
But these two different children were never content to be separate but equal or perhaps complimentary. No, from their very conception they were in conflict with one another, competing for who would emerge first and as first-born continue the heritage of Avraham and Yitzchak and bear the mantle of spiritual leadership. This of course would have an enormous influence on the character of the future covenantal community.
Hypothetically, what might have "Am Yisrael" looked like if the lineage would have continued through Esav instead of Yaakov? It would have looked more like Esav and modeled his behavior. (25:34) "Jacob then gave Esav bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, and he arose and went away. Thus Esav spurned the birthright." He didn't make a bracha or bentch. He didn't thank Yaakov. He showed no gratitude whatsoever, and as such clearly justified Yaakov's insistant purchase of the birthright. One who sells his heritage for fast food and isn't even grateful for the sustenance is not fit to be patriarch of God's people.
Am Yisrael on the other hand has come to be known as the Jews, Yehudim - named after the royal tribe of Judah. Judah was so named because of his mother Leah's gratitude to Hashem for his birth. (29:35) "This time I will thank Hashem.” Therefore she named him Judah.
How absolutely appropriate then that we celebrate Thanksgiving in this parasha. Todot (thanks) is part of Toldot. Gratitude is perhaps the defining characteristic of our people and our spiritual path, so this holiday can be one way in which America (and other nations who also celebrate Thanksgiving this week, like Japan) has come to resemble Yaakov more than Esav. Thank God.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving,
Rabbi Shlomo
Classes This Week
NOTE: The Thursday evening class is paused until further notice.
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