Eisav Is Still Postponing His Bris “VaYeitzi HaRishon Admoni; The first one (Esav) emerged red.” Daas Zekanim MiBaalai HaTosfos says that when Esav was 8 days old, Yitzchok was afraid to give him a Bris Milah since he was red. He was worried that he was not healthy enough to handle the circumcision. A few years passed and Yitzchok realized that this was his natural color. He still did not circumcise him at that point saying, “Let me wait until he is 13 years old, this way he will have a Bris Milah at the same age as Yishmael.” Once Esav reached 13 he did not allow his father to circumcise him.
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Why Is The Torah So Busy With Yitzchok’s Wells? After Yitzchok moved from downtown Grar to the valley because of jealousy of the local people, the Pilishtim continued to harass him and stuff up up his wells. This whole episode is recorded in the Torah, and is one of the few stories we have about Yitzchok. Why is this so significant?
Harav Horowitz Bachaye tells us that these Be’er Mayim Chaim refer to the Bais HaMikdash, which is the source of Mayim Chaim or Hashem. The first one representing the first Bais HaMikdash, was called Aisek, because it was the subject of a number of wars and attacks until it was finally stuffed up or destroyed and the Shechina no longer flowed through there. The second one was called Sitna, as in Satan or obstruction. Achashveirosh obstructed its building, and there were always obstructionists during its entire existence, until it, too, was finally destroyed.
The third well was called Rechovos because Hashem gave us room and let us blossom. This refers to the third Bais HaMikdash in which there will be no opposition. In describing this well, the Torah uses Hashem’s name, “Ki Hirchiv Hashem Lanu.” Because unlike the first two that were built by man (Shlomo and Koresh respectively), the third Bais HaMikdash will be built by Hashem.
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Eisav and Lavan – Who Was The Big Lamdan? The pasuk says that Yaakov gave Eisav “Lechem U’Nizid Adoshim; Bread and lentil stew.” Eisav only asked for the lentils, why did Yaakov give him bread? Rav Chaim Kanievsky answers that since there is a machlokes in the Gemara what bracha to make on beans that were cooked for a long time (either Shehakol or Ha’adama) the best way to avoid any problems is to wash on bread. Therefore, Yaakov gave Eisav the bread so he would wash and not worry about which bracha to make.
Rav Elya Man then asked Rav Chaim about a comment he made about the Meshech Chochma that points out from the language in the pasuk in Chayei Sara (23:53-54) that Lavan and his mother did not partake in Rivka’s Seudas Eirusin since they were aveilim. To that Rav Chaim responded that Rav Meir Simcha (The Meshech Chochma) turned them into bigger “Lamdanim” than they were. So why did Rav Chaim make Eisav into such a big Lamdan? Rav Chaim answered that Eisav probably learned with his father, Yitzchok, and, therefore, was a big lamdan but who would Lavan have learned with?
Rav Chaim was then asked how he could say that Eisav was so concerned about Brachos after coming in from Shefichas Domim, Giluy Aroyos, Kofer Ba’Ikar, and more? Rav Chaim answered that this is not a contradiction. There are many people like that today. (Derech Sicha)
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Beans For The Bechor? When Eisav asked Yaakov to feed him the beans, Yaakov then asked Eisav to sell him the Bechor. What suddenly happened that Yaakov felt this was the opportune moment to extract the Bechor from Eisav?
Rav Eliezer HaGadol Ashkenazi in his classic sefer Maasei Hashem explains as follows: Eisav was asking Yaakov to serve him. Sheim told Rivkah that the older son would serve the younger son. “If so,” said Yaakov to Eisav, “you should sell me the Bechor, and then as the older one, I will be your servant.”
More than this, the reason the older would serve the younger one is because the younger one will get all the Brachos of a good life in Olam HaZeh. The Bechor would suffer in this world but reap the benefits of the next world. So Yaakov was in essence offering his subservience to Eisav in Olam HaZeh, in exchange for the Bechor’s inheritance of Olam HaBah.
To this Eisav answered, “Hinei Anochi Holeich Lamus; When I leave this world I am going to die,” since he did not believe in Olam Haba. “V’Lama Zeh Li Bechora.” Eisav was more than happy to part with something he did not believe in to gain his ultimate material desires.
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Eisav’s Hair Drove Yaakov Crazy “VaYisrosatzu HaBanim BiKirbah; And the children pushed within her” – Rashi says 2 interpretations in the word “VaYisrosatzu”.
1) It means to “run”. When Rivka passed the Bais Medrash of Shem ViEver – Yaakov ran to get out of the womb. When she passed the entrances of places of idol worship Esav ran to get out of his mother’s womb.
2) It means to “crush” – They were crushing and fighting with each other over the inheritance of this world and the next.
Tur Al HaTorah has a very interesting approach. The reason for this unusual movement of the twin boys in her womb was caused by the hairiness of Esav. Esav’s hair was causing discomfort for Yaakov. This is the reason for the unusual amount of movement and shifting that was taking place in Rivka’s womb.
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1. Why was Esav named Esav? – He was born fully developed. The name Esav is based on the Hebrew word for “made”.
2. Who gave Yaakov his name? – Hashem.
3. How did Esav deceive his father? – Esav deceived Yitzchak by asking questions that suggested that he was very strict in mitzvah observance.
4. Why was Esav faint when he returned from the field? – From having murdered.
5. What was the birthright that Yaakov bought from Esav? – The right to bring sacrifices.

Created By Avrohom Sherman
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