PARSHAT TOLDOT
By Rabbi Sholem B. Hecht
“Please Insert Coin”
Although the portion of Toldos seems to fit into the general pattern of the many portions in the Book of Bereshis which tell us of the genesis of the world and the genesis of the Jewish people, while at the same time teaching us morality and practical application of the principles of the Torah, nevertheless, the portion of Toldos has several very troubling events and difficult, if not profound, concepts.
Unlocking the Fraudulent Scheme
Why was it necessary for Yaakov to receive the blessings in an indirect and, perhaps, unethical manner? Why was it that Rivkah recognized the differences between Yaakov and Esau better than Yitzchak did? Why was it that Yaakov had to buy the birthright from Esau? In explaining these various difficulties in the portion, the commentaries reveal for us many of the secrets of the Torah and give us a more profound understanding of the stories of Bereishis.
Isaac’s 3rd Son
When Yitzchak is confronted by Yaakov and hears him present himself as his first-born son, Esau, he is troubled because the language which Yaakov uses is not consistent with the speech of Esau. And so he asks Yaakov to come closer and in embracing him tries to decide, by touch, whether this is in fact Esau or Yaakov. The conundrum intensifies when Yitzchak realizes that the voice is the voice of Yaakov but the hands are the hands of Esau. Yitzchak then tries to decide, is this Esau disguising his voice as Yaakov so that the blessing will be richer; is this Yaakov disguising himself as Esau in order to get the blessing; or is this a third interloper who has disguised himself both as Yaakov and Esau in order to receive the blessings.
The Torah tells us that Yitzchak tells the son to come closer so that he may be blessed because his hands were covered with hair. In other words, Yitzchak decided it would have been too difficult for Yaakov to change himself physically to appear like Esau and it would have been easier for Esau to change his voice and so he assumed that, in fact, it was Esau.
While Yitzchak was reaching this conclusion, the question that we have is why didn't Rivkah simply go to Yitzchak and tell him to bless Yaakov, rather than have Yaakov put on the charade in order to get the blessing? Rivkah had a profound purpose in telling Yaakov to dress up as Esau, namely, because she felt that Esau had always misrepresented himself in front of Yitzchak by asking how to tithe salt and straw, and presenting himself in many ways as the pious person that he was not, and Yitzchak, for whatever reason, accepted Esau's acts. Perhaps Yitzchak felt that in this way he would keep Esau close to the fold. Perhaps Yitzchak was impressed by Esau's dramatics.
Whatever the case, Rivkah felt, that Yitzchak was being too nice to Esau in his misrepresentations. And so Rivkah felt that it was necessary to show Yitzchak that one can sometimes be fooled by misrepresentation and, therefore, she told Yaakov to dress himself up as Esau and to come before Yitzchak to request the blessings.
Senses Revived
It is possible, therefore, that Yitzchak in fact realized in the end that Yaakov was standing before him. However, he acquiesced to Rivkah's ploy and he said, "Come and I will bless you because you have made your hands hairy." In other words, admitting that he realized Rivkah's point and that he understood that Yaakov had now taken on the guise of Esau in order to emphasize Esau's dramatizations and, in effect, Yitzchak agreed to give Yaakov the blessing, because he was truly the Ish Tam, the man of truth and sincerity.
Yitzchak begins his blessings to Yaakov, Vayitain Lecho etc. The Commentaries note that this word begins with the letter Vov, in this case meaning the contraction, and, which causes the Commentaries to query what was the blessing that Yizchak gave before he said Vayitain Lecho. What was Vayitain Lecho added to by beginning with the word "and he will give you." Rashi takes the simple approach to the term and translates Vayitain meaning, Yitain v'Yachzor- G-d will give you and then he will give you again, so that perhaps the first act of giving which Yitzchak blessed was implied and it was a repeat giving which is pronounced, Vayitain Lecho, and G-d should give you from the dew of the Heaven and from the richness of the earth.
Thanksgiving, Everyday
The Kli Yakar explains that a person has to appreciate all the kindness and goodness which the A-mighty does for him. As we grow up and become mature, we understand that we must thank the A-mighty for the goodness that he has shown to us, being given life, health and the ability. To grow up, to live and to follow in the ways of G-d is a manifestation of the Omnipotent One's infinite mercy. As we grow, we must thank G-d daily by praising Him, praying to Him and carrying out His mitzvos in the real world. One might say that G-d has taken care of me until now and given me life, it would appear that I have quite a bit of credit and, therefore, it is not necessary for me to go out of my way to show my appreciation and thanks to the Al-mighty.
Here, Yitzchak tells Yaakov, Vayitain Lecho, if you remember, you have a responsibility to the A-mighty for the goodness He gave you until now and you will view that as someone who has given you credit and you must understand that you must pay back what you owe and then you will get that credit again. So that if you walk in the path of the Torah and show your appreciation for all the goodness that the A-mighty has meted out to you, and in that sense you will repay G-d for His kindness to you, then the A-mighty will give you credit again. Vayitain Lecho Elokim,
G-d will give you all of that goodness.
G-dly Blessings of Materialism
Another interpretation for the additional giving may be found in the explanation that when Yaakov entered into the presence of Yitzchak the fragrance of Gan Eden was suddenly revealed in the room. For that reason Yitzchak said, the fragrance is the fragrance of a field blessed by the A-mighty. Yitzchak saw that he was dealing with a person who is already destined to receive bountiful reward in the World to Come, so he said to Yaakov, the goodness which you are destined to receive in the World to Come is already there, but I pray that the A-mighty additional gives you, and may he give you the dew of the Heaven and the richness of the earth. Here, the Vayitain adds the material blessings to the spiritual blessings.
“Please, Insert Coin”
Finally, there are those who think that if the A-mighty wants to bless me then all I have to do is sit back, fold my hands and wait for that blessing to appear. Here Yitzchak said very clearly that if you want the blessing of G-d to come, then you must do whatever is in your power to provide a proper vessel, so that G-d could bestow His blessings upon you.
Thus, he said,
Vayitain,
and he will give you, as a result and as a consequence of your good actions and of your work, then the A-mighty will bless you in everything that you do -
Vayitain Lecho - He will give you those things that you need because you have done whatever you could on your part.
