Torah Teasers
Parshas TOLDOS
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.
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?
Rabbeinu Bachaye tells us that the 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.
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. Rav Chaim answered that this is not a contradiction. There are many people like that today.
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 desires.
Did Yaakov and Eisav Die On The Same Day? Rivka told Yaakov to run away from Eisav because “Lama Eshkol Gam Shnaichem Yom Echad; Why should I lose two children in one day?” Rashi explains that if Eisav kills Yaakov his children will kill Eisav right away. This Rashi says that nevuah that came out of Rivka’s mouth since they both died in one day. The Gemara in Sotah 13 says that although they did not die the same day, Eisav was killed by Chushim ben Dan, the day Yaakov was buried. “However,” asks Rav Shimshon Pincus, “since the fact remains that they did not die on the same day, so what kind of nevuah was this? He answers that the gemara says in Taanis 5 that “Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis; Yaakov Avinu never died,” (the meaning of this is not within the scope of this article). Therefore, the day of Yaakov’s death was not the day he was taken from us. Although (whatever it means) he was still alive when they placed him the Meoras HaMachpela, it was the day he was taken away from us. Therefore, it turns out that indeed Yaakov and Eisav were taken the same day.
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 world to come. 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 which was causing discomfort for Yaakov.
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Test me….I Dare You — TOLDOS
1. Why was it important that Yitzchak look like Avraham? – So everyone would agree that Avraham was indeed his father.
2. Why does the Torah stress that Rivka was Betuel’s daughter and Lavan’s sister? – To praise her, that even though her family was evil she was righteous.
3. What are the two differences between Tamar’s pregnancy and Rivka’s pregnancy? – Rivka gave birth at full term to two children, one righteous and one wicked. Tamar gave birth after seven months to two righteous children.
4. Why was Esav named Esav? – He was born fully developed. The name Esav is based on the Hebrew word for “made”.
5. Who gave Yaakov his name? – Hashem.
6. How did Esav deceive his father? – Esav deceived Yitzchak by asking questions that suggested that he was very strict in mitzvah observance.
7. Why was Esav faint when he returned from the field? – From having murdered.
8. Why are lentils a food for mourners? – They are round like a wheel and mourning is like a revolving wheel that eventually touches everyone.
9. What was the birthright that Yaakov bought from Esav? – The right to bring sacrifices.
10. Why was Yitzchak not permitted to go to Egypt? – Through the akeida he had attained the status of a korban and was forbidden to leave Eretz Canaan.
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