Rabbi's Blog

A person must come to grips with the fact there are certain battles in life which we will never win. Recently, I encountered two situations that are similar to this principle. The first is a mistake which I clearly put the blame on my shoulders. When making airline reservations, I forgot to ask for a seat. Arriving at the airport for my flight, I was assigned 37E - the middle seat of the very last row.  This really wouldn’t have been my first choice. This is not the first time this has happened; shame on me for repeating my mistake.

The year I took over the pulpit at Beth Jacob, three other synagogues hired rabbis as well. One of the local newspapers wanted to photograph all four new rabbis together for the Rosh Hashanah issue. Four new rabbis for the New Year: representatives of Judaism’s four major movements. For many different reasons I was photographed separately from the other three. The caption beneath the two pictures, which were placed side by side, read something to the effect of: ”Bogopulsky refuses to be photographed with the other rabbis”. I called the editor and complained, asking why he made me appear to be the bad guy. He responded, “Didn’t you say that?” I realized from that day forward that I would have to be extremely careful when it came to the media. Only last week I was asked to be interviewed by a local T.V.Station. Only negative things resulted because of that latest interview. I didn’t learn from my previous mistake and failed to stick to my motto of not airing my thoughts to the media. News personnel come across as friendly, but one  never knows how an interview will be printed or shown.  Nor will one know how the public will react.

In this week’s Parsha Toldos we read about Eisav’s frustration in not receiving the first bracha from his father, Yitzchok. The exchange between Eisav and his father begins in Breishis 27:32. Passukim 32,33 state:”Vayomer Bah Achicha B’Mirma, VaYikach Birchasecha” -  And Yitzchok said to Eisav,  “Your brother came with deceit and he took your blessing.”  “Vayomer Hachi Kara Shmo Yaakov VaYaakveinee Zeh PaAmayim, Es B’Chorasi LaKach V’Hinei Ata LaKachBirchasi…” – And Eisav said to Yitzchok, “This is why you called him Yaakov, as he tricked me twice: he took my birthright and now he has taken my blessing..”. The Ohr HaChaim says this is strange. The word ‘Yaakov’ would indicate only a one-time trick. If he really meant twice, then shouldn’t his name be Okvos? The Ohr HacHaim explains that the word ‘Yaakov’ has the meaning of consistency, that Yaakov was now tricking as a way of life, according to Eisav.

I would like to share a radically different approach. We all know Yaakov bought the birthright from Eisav and as a result would be entitled to the first blessing. It is interesting to note that neither Yitzchak nor Eisav used the word ‘steal’ when it came to the birthright or the blessings. Rather, the word ‘LaKach’, which literally means ‘took’, means that Yaakov took what was rightfully his. Yitzchok, and perhaps even Eisav, is admitting that the blessing belonged to Yaakov and reveals it to us by using the word ‘LaKach’ and not ‘Ganav’, which means to steal. When Jewish law describes a buyer and a seller, the Mocher is the seller and the LoKeiach is the buyer. Clearly, Eisav admits that Yaakov purchased the birthright and therefore rightfully takes the first Bracha. Perchance, Yitzchak blessed Yaakov first - thinking it was Eisav -  because Yitzchak did not know that Eisav had sold the birthright.

Eisav is not necessarily directing his anger or frustration at Yaakov at this time. Rather, Eisav is lamenting over the fact that he did something wrong by selling his B’Chora to Yaakov. Eisav is not upset that his brother tricked him into selling the birthright or that he was taken advantage of by coming home hungry and tired and would do anything for some food. Eisav is not upset for having sold it for only a bowl of lentil soup. Rather, Eisav is upset with himself for selling it altogether! He now realizes the true value of what the B’Chora could mean to him. Later on, when he, for some reason, believes that the Blessings should come to him first, it hits him a second time. “Vayaakveinee Zeh PaaMayim” - it’s a double dose of truth smacking him in the face. Eisav is now reliving the mistake a second time as though he is making the identical mistake again.

Eisav is in denial regarding his first mistake -  degrading the birthright which he undervalued. The greatest pain hit him when he was reminded of his earlier error and then doubled back, repeating the error by letting Yaakov receive the Bracha.

We all must recognize and appreciate the value of the birthright that we, the Jewish people, possess. We are the B’Chor - the firstborn of all the nations. We should not be careless by selling our birthright for something cheap that is tempting for the moment. If we don’t cherish it now, then the blessings that come along with the birthright will be taken by another nation, Chas V’Shalom. By virtue of appreciating who we are as the B’nei Yisrael, we will be worthy of the brachos that Hashem has in store for us on a personal and national level.  

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky