Parshas Toldos 5765

Not much is discussed about the life of the second Patriarch, Isaac, in the Torah. Even where he is mentioned it is usually more as a passive participant rather than as an activist, such as his involvement in the Akeidah. Even his marriage was attended to by his father and his servant. This fits in with Isaac's nature. Whereas Abraham's life had been completely devoted to the needs of others, Isaac devoted himself to introspection and his own character development.

Isaac and Rebecca had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. The two could not have been more different from one another. Esau, the firstborn, was hairy, and a conniving hunter. Jacob was smooth skinned, a studious scholar with a straight and honest character. His honesty, however, would be put to great challenge. Esau treated his father with the greatest respect, fooling him into thinking that he was deserving of being his spiritual successor. Rebecca, however, understood the true nature of her sons, and knew prophetically that Esau was actually wicked, undeserving of his father's blessings.

The Torah relates an incident that took place when the boys were fifteen years old. Jacob was cooking a pot of lentils when Esau came in from the fields, hungry and tired. He begged Jacob to pour him some of the "red stuff" he was cooking. Jacob agreed, on the condition that Esau would relinquish his birthright. Esau immediately accepted the condition, claiming that it was of no value to him. Although this may have appeared deceptive, the Torah emphasizes that even after Esau was satiated he had no regrets.

Many years later, when Jacob claimed the blessing from their father through deception, Esau cried bitterly, regretting his earlier decision. This short account is related to portray the essential difference between Jacob and Esau.

Esau was a person who lived for the moment. He would trade away his eternity for the fleeting pleasure and gratification of the "red stuff" of physical pleasure. Only later, long after the beans would be gone, would Esau realize the folly of his deeds and decisions; but by then it would be too late. Jacob, on the other hand, had the fortitude to be patient, to sacrifice part of his present for a piece of the eternal. Jacob is found to be worthy of the birthright.

The Midrash describes the wicked as people full of regret. Man is not essentially evil. He just has a difficulty keeping things in their proper perspective, allowing himself to be blinded by the glitter of the temporal. The righteous person is the one who remains focused on his ultimate goals, without allowing himself to be led astray. Only that person is the one who is deserving of spiritual blessings.

"Isaac prayed opposite his wife because she was barren" (Gen. 25:21)

A wealthy individual who had lost all his fortune came to the Sokolover Rebbe to unburden himself. "I have no rest day or night," he cried, "I can't even concentrate on prayer in this situation."

The Rebbe said, "My son, the prayers in a comfortable lifestyle they have already heard from you in Heaven. Now they want to hear your prayers out of difficult circumstances. Now especially is the time for you to pray!"

The Kotzker Rebbe used to say that there is no prayer more wholesome than the prayer from a broken heart.

Did you know ... ?

There are various customs regarding the yahrzeit, or the anniversary of a parent's death. Some have the custom to fast, to provide merit for the deceased on their annual day of judgment. Others complete a volume of Torah or Talmud and make a siyum (a celebration marking the completion),also to provide merit.

Others make a kiddush, in order to allow others to recite a blessing on the food, for the merit of the deceased. The participants should mention that it is for this merit. It is also proper to increase charity and Torah study on the yahrzeit. Some have the custom to lead services on the Saturday night before the yahrzeit, since that marks the yahrzeit of the "Shabbos soul" of the deceased.