Genesis 25:19-28:9 – 1 Samuel 20:18-42 – John 1:35-51

This week's edition of The Set Table contains:

Questions and Commentary on Toledot
Chayyei Yeshua - A Devotional Commentary on the Besora Reading
In Summary
Looking Ahead

Questions & Commentary on Parashat Toledot

1. What does the Torah teach us in the story of Jacob's deception of Isaac to receive the blessing of his father?

Benjamin Ehrenfeld

One of the themes of this parasha is Jacob receiving the birthright "intended" for the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebecca, Esau. A great deal can be said about what the Torah teaches us by the choice of Jacob over Esau, but it is equally important to note what it may be teaching us in regard to the way in which Jacob receives that birthright. In the beginning of the parasha, we find that the one who is to come out of the womb first is to be subservient to the other. God says to Rebecca, "The older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). What unfolds is a portrait of a seemingly dysfunctional family, setting the stage for the way in which God's declaration to Rebecca would be fulfilled.

The event of Isaac's "deception" teaches us something very profound about three important things: 1. Isaac's role as a patriarch; 2. the nature of the personality of Jacob; 3. How we, the Jewish people, are to behave in light of how we came to be a nation.

God had determined Jacob's "might" over Esau (Genesis 25:23), Rebecca preferred Jacob to Esau (25:28), and Esau sold his birthright to Jacob (25:33). By chapter 26, one could assume that this matter is closed. The parasha then goes on to share details of various important events in Isaac's life, but then comes back in chapter 27 to deal with this same issue. The only one who was not "in on the secret," was Isaac. This is not the first time this has happened to Isaac. In Parashat Vayyera, Isaac is offered as a sacrifice, until God holds Abraham back from completing this sacrifice. Our tradition teaches us that this was not only an act of utter submission by Abraham, but by Isaac, as well. Isaac had to, in a sense, allow his life to be a sacrifice for the will of God. By the time we come to this week's parasha, it is clear: Isaac has to be the one to give the birthright, himself. Now, God does not require him to sacrifice his life; God requires him to sacrifice his right to choose the receiver of the promise. In utter humility, Isaac is to be the ultimate determiner of the extension of the birthright, and yet is the only one who does not will that gift. One of the primary "merits" of Isaac is his willingness to sacrifice. This can be seen not only through the events of the Aqeda but also through what he sacrifices to do the will of God in this week's parasha.

Jacob is not one who is easily satisfied. He demands hishav‘ah li kayyom (Genesis 25:33), which can be translated as "Swear to me this very day." Esau's somewhat dismissive relinquishment of his birthright is not enough for Jacob. Jacob desires unequivocal promise. This phrase occurs elsewhere in the Torah. When Jacob, in Parashat Vayyechi, asks Joseph that he not be buried in Egypt, even after Joseph consents, Jacob says, hishav‘ah li. In Parashat Vayyishlach, when Jacob is wrestling, he demands to be blessed. Along this same line, we find the same thing in his deception of his father. He needs to receive the blessing from Isaac himself. Esau's promise, and his mother's love are not enough for Jacob. So, he deceives his father, and brings into effect what needs to take place for the transfer to be completely proper. The most important part of this deception is what he learns from it. He gives a blessing to all of his sons, and to both of Joseph's. Jacob's determination to seal what is rightfully his, teaches him to prevent the kind of pain that this event caused his family, from happening with him and his children.

We, as the Jewish people, must be willing to allow ourselves to bring God's will into this world without any attachment to our personal desires. This is what Isaac taught us. In spite of this, we are required to understand that when we are called, God requires us to seek out our blessings, and will require us to engage in difficult actions to manifest the divine will. Jacob taught us this. The beauty is that Jacob taught us something even more important; by doing the hurtful, yet "right", thing, we can be determined to learn a less hurtful way in the future.

2. What does this week's portion teach us about personal choices? 

Joshua Brumbach

Esau was faced with a choice, soup or a birthright? When offered the opportunity for spiritual blessings and rewards, the only thing that mattered to him was his own immediate physical need. Esau ended up selling his birthright to Jacob, for he had no regard for the spiritual. So why does he still end up hating and wanting to kill Jacob? (Genesis 27:41)

Just like Esau, we too often make irrational decisions in the spur of the moment and end up hating ourselves and others as a result. We often cast off spiritual values in an attempt to satisfy an immediate need. Yet, in the end, it is futile. The thing we once cast off ends up becoming the thing we most desperately desire. And when we cannot have it, we end up hating those who do have it, resulting in a vicious cycle.

The Brit Chadasha states, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). 

Instead of living by our own irrationality, like Esau, we must become like Jacob. We should never by too anxious to make a decision. But rather, we need to be "God conscious." We need to constantly be reminded of a greater spiritual reality.  Yehudah HaNasi states, "Consider three things and you will not fall into the power of transgression:  Know what is above you - a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all your deeds are written in a book" (Pirkei Avot 2.2).

Being "God conscious" requires being in tune with spiritual values, and training our minds to think about consequences for our actions. We must make ourselves aware to make choices for good. 1 Corinthians 10:5 encourages that we must "take every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah."

We all make choices. Sometimes, we may not even make the best ones. However, I challenge every one of us to begin to train our minds to be "God conscious" in every way. So when the challenge arises to place our needs above the highest (and holiest) needs, we will be able to make the right decisions. May we, like our ancestor Jacob, receive the blessing to make choices of blessings and shalom, and, in the end, merit the righteous birthright of our Messiah Yeshua!