a project of www.Chabad.org Toldot 5763 (2002) Comment The Torah’s Esau How should a person be judged -- by what he or she is, or by what s/he can be? A mysterious Parshah commentary by Rashi, a Talmudic adage The voice is the voice of and a chapter from the Chassidic work Tanya Jacob, but the hands are the provide an unconventional formula hands of Esau. (Genesis 27:22) A Joke Made in Heaven Story "Go in peace," said the Maggid to the destitute young scholar. "And remember: you must accept the very first marriage proposal that is suggested to you." The Glory of Doing Nothing Question What does G-d want with sinners like me? What did He put such a louse of a creature here for? I Separation Anxiety just want to know: does He appreciate at all the Within every love, there is effort I put into trying not to be what I am? fear: The fear of separation from that which you love. A child fears separation from Voices Hide and Seek the parent, a lover from the Shira turned, as if struck by a new idea, only to beloved, the body fears separa- get sidetracked by the subtlest sound of shifting tion from the soul and the soul legs on the wooden floor. She leaped at Naomi from its Source Above. and both laughed aloud, reunited So what do you love? Look at your worries and you will know. If you are aflame with worry Parsha Toldot — Genesis 25:19-28:9 over your debts and financial Jacob is born clutching Esau's heel; their father future, then it is the materia favors the hunter, their mother the scholar, and world you love -- because you the former sells his birthright to the latter for a believe in the material world and pot of red lentil stew. Thus the stage is set for a you see it as the source of all cosmic struggle which still engulfs us today that is good for you. Your wor- ries are anxiety of separation from material good. Cleave to the true Source Above and your heart will have For more information or to subscribe new material no room for fear of this world. to one of our many insipiring added daily! periodicals log on to: This magazine contains sacred Torah www.Chabad.org material. Please do not discard. www.Chabad.org Comment have wrestled with demons more ominous and pow- erful than anything you’ve ever had to deal with. The Torah’s Esau And if you see someone who has sunk to depths by Yanki Tauber which you cannot even fathom, know that s/he is blessed with equally unfathomable potentials. This, says the Lubavitcher Rebbe, is the deeper meaning behind a curious commentary by Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105, who authored the most basic and important of the Torah’s com- mentaries) on the opening verses of the Parshah (Torah section) of Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9). Toldot begins, “And these are the toldot (‘genera- How should a person be judged — by what he or tions’) of Isaac the son of Abraham.” Rashi explains: she is, or by what s/he can be? That, say the who are these “generations”? “Jacob and Esau who Chassidic masters, depends on who that person is. If are spoken of in the Parshah.” But isn’t that obvi- the person is yourself, you must judge yourself by ous? Why does Rashi need to explain? your actions, not your potential. You cannot say to yourself: “Ok, I’ve been sort of lazy lately, and I’ve The standard explanation is that, in the Torah, the messed up a bit, but I know that I can be better. word toldot can have several meanings. It can mean That’s the real me — not the person that the rest of “children” and “descendents”, and it can also mean the world sees.” On the contrary, if you know that “products” and “deeds” (all of which are “generat- you can do better, you ought to do better. Why else ed” by a person). Since the account of Jacob’s and were your talents and resources granted to you — so Esau’s birth does not immediately follow the that they should rot from misuse inside their wrap- Parshah’s opening verse, and since the Parshah of pings? Toldot also describes events and deeds of Isaac’s life, there can be some doubt as to how to translate If, however, the person being judged is someone the word toldot in this context. So Rashi feels the other than yourself, you must take the opposite need to tell us that, in this case, it refers to “Jacob approach. After all, you have no way of knowing, and Esau who are spoken of in the Parshah.” and certainly no way of truly understanding, the cir- cumstances that are preventing that person from But, says the Rebbe, there is also another meaning actualizing his or her potential. So if you see some- implicit in Rashi’s commentary. On a deeper level, one who’s a real mess, don’t look at what s/he is — Rashi is addressing the question: How do such right- focus instead on what that person can be. In fact, eous and holy parents as Isaac and Rebecca, and a says Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in his Tanya, righteous and holy environment such as their home, the more messed up that person is, the greater the produce a wicked and violent man such as Esau? admiration you should have for him or her. After all, Esau was Jacob’s twin, sharing the same gene-pool and upbringing. Jacob makes sense. But Why is that? Rabbi Schneur Zalman bases his where does Esau come from? amazing statement on a saying by the sages of the Talmud: “The greater a person is, the greater his evil Indeed, says Rashi, the wicked Esau is not a inclination.” Indeed, it stands to reason: otherwise, “product” of Isaac and Rebecca, but a monster of his how could we say that G-d has granted every indi- own making. Who are the toldot of Isaac? The Jacob vidual absolute freedom of choice? Don’t we see and Esau who are spoken of in the Parshah. The people who are challenged by addictions and temp- Torah’s Esau is a man of great potential for good — tations far greater than anything we ourselves are as great as the evil he allowed himself to succumb ever subjected to? If such a person, too, has been to. granted the power to control his or her life, that To Esau this says: See what you could be. To us, means that they have also been fortified with spiri- this says: The next time you see an Esau, look again. tual strengths far beyond what the “average” person By Yanki Tauber, [email protected]; based on possesses. The implications of this are twofold: If the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, www.therebbe.org you see a truly great person, know that he or she Comment | Story | Question | Voices | Parsha | Week at Glance 2 2 2 2 www.Chabad.org celebratory drinks would certainly be ordered. She Story innocently agreed, and when she emerged into the A Joke Made in main room, was greeted with loud cheers and applause. Heaven The band of loiterers thereupon ordered vodka with which to treat the young chassid on the occa- By Yrachmiel Tilles sion of his unconventional engagement, and had a great time toasting l’chaim and offering him their blessings, all the while snickering behind his back. A young unmarried chassid named Meir spent the Then one of them came up with a further suggestion: festivals in the court of his Rebbe, Rabbi Dov Ber, “Why don’t we arrange the marriage ceremony the “Maggid” of Mezeritch. When it was time to straight away? Then we can throw a really great take leave and he was admitted to the Rebbe’s room, party!” he complained about the difficulties he was having One of his friends objected: “But none of our finding a wife. Because of his poverty, no one would crowd knows how to draw up the marriage contract offer him a match. and run the ceremony.” “Go in peace,” said the Rebbe. “Accept the first Meir, overhearing them, promptly volunteered marriage proposition that is suggested to you.” that he knew how to do both. This gave them even On his way home the young man spent the night more cause for mirth. They took a clean tablecloth in a village inn, where he found a group of empty- and held it up with four broomsticks over the heads headed loafers wasting their time in drinking and of the couple as a chupah canopy. The chassid wrote foolish jesting. Being cold from his journey, he out the ketubah document; and then he duly sancti- found a seat in a corner next to the stove. He tried to fied the giggling young lady as his lawful wedded be unobtrusive, but the mischief-makers spotted wife according to the rites of Moses and Israel. him, and asked him where he was from and what His companions now enjoyed their practical joke was his business. He gave them the name of his so much that they tugged at his hat from all sides, home town, and told them that he had just visited the made fun of him without any restraint, and even Maggid of Mezritch. started to slap him around a bit.