YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Toldot
Our sedra begins the amazing story of Yakov & Esav. This is a saga that never really ends; the progeny of Yakov - we Jews - will go on forever, we will be locked in battle, both physical & spiritual, with Esav’s descendants until the end of time.
The parsha begins with the story of the B’chora. It represents the "birthright" of having first-born status, but in actuality, it refers to the mantle of leadership that will now be bestowed upon one of these two young men. We know or we think we know – the events: Esav comes in from hunting out in the field, & he is ravenously famished. He craves the lentil stew that Yakov is making (by tradition it is for the Shiva meal after grandfather Avraham’s funeral) & so he trades the B’chora for the bowl.
That is the common conception – or misconception. Because nowhere in the narrative do we see that Esav is hungry! What it does say – twice! – is that Esav was tired, & that is a huge difference. To be hungry after work outdoors is understandable & natural, but to be tired is an entirely different thing.
What, exactly, is exhausting Esav? I’ll tell you what is going on here: Esav is tired of hearing that he is going to be the family’s leader; that he has the responsibility to represent the family & behave in a way that will bring honor to his ancestors & evoke respect from the outside world. He is tired of hearing, "Esav, you must behave yourself; Esav, you must be dignified, a model of morality; Esav, you must present an image of integrity."
No way, Jose. Esav wants none of that; he’d rather have a lowly meal of lentils than a life of high standards. And so he opts out.
He also oddly remarks: "I’m going to die anyway, so what good is the B’chora?!" Esav views life solely as the number of years he will survive. He doesn’t understand that Jewish leaders live forever; the examples they set & the lessons they teach are immortal & carry on long, long after their physical demise. True leaders build on the past but lay the groundwork for the future.
There are two crucial lessons here that must not be lost on us as we wage war with the forces of evil. The first is that we do not have the luxury of being tired. We – both the soldiers and the entire Jewish People – must continue to push forward, determined to achieve our goals. We cannot & must not rest until we have won, no matter how exhausted we may be, for he who falters will have lost.
Secondly, what should give us strength & inspire us to fight unceasingly is the knowledge that we are doing this not only for ourselves in the here& now; we are fighting for the future of Am Yisrael. It is because we faltered in previous crises, because we stopped short of our goals then, that we are paying a heavy price now.
Yakov says to Esav: "Swear to me today." Yakov understands that "today" is all that Esav cares about. But Yakov, like the rightful standard-bearer that he is, knows that tomorrow, & not today, is the all-important mission.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.