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Parshat Toledot
2003
Struggling Generations
What do Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses have in common? All of them were not the first born, they were all the under-dog. As such they can serve as powerful role models for us as people and as Jews about overcoming hardship. All of these leaders of our people had to struggle to overcome challenges. Isaac, the father figure in this week's Torah portion of Toldot (meaning offspring, or generations), was taunted, or perhaps even molested, by his older half brother Yishmael. Like the two identical goats used as part of the ancient rituals on Yom Kippur, Yishmael was banished to the desert and Isaac was brought up on the altar. We read this week about Jacob who struggles against his twin brother from before they are even born! He obtains the blessing of the first born with disguise and trickery. He later wrestles with an angel and limps for the rest of his life
Joseph, Jacob's son, is almost killed by his brothers who are jealous of his colorful coat and his prophetic dreams. Moses, the teacher of our people, grows up in a palace not really his own, lives as an outlaw in a strange land, and struggles with his own speech difficulties even as he struggles against Pharaoh. From these many stories a theme emerges that we see clearly in this week's reading: from difficulty can emerge strength. Without challenge we often do not grow. A gardener cuts branches from a fruit tree not to harm the wood, but to prune it to encourage new growth. Abraham, father of our people, leaves what is familiar to truly go to himself and become who he is meant to be.
Jacob, born with his hand on the heel of his brother and named "he will heel" is destined to be the next leader of his people. His struggles with his brother, he struggles with his father-in-law, and he struggles with the divine. He summarizes his life to Pharaoh when he is an old man by saying " The days of my life have been few and hard..." [B'reishit 47:9] and yet it is this difficult life that produces a clearly articulated spiritual path. Jacob is the both the heel and also Yisrael, the Prince of G-d, the Interfacer with G-d. When Jacob overcomes his physical and emotional hardships, he encounters the spiritual realm. "G-d is truly in this place, but I did not know it. How awesome is this place! This is the house of G-d and this is the gate to heaven" [B'reishit 28:17]. This same path is open to each of us; we can see conflict and run and hide, or we can embrace the struggle and become a stronger leader in the process. We can only see the physical world of the senses, or we can perceive a higher reality of the heart and soul.
Your Torah Navigator
1. Rebecca is sterile and Isaac prays on her behalf. She becomes pregnant. What is the power of praying for someone else? [B'reishit 25:21].
2. When Rebecca's pregnancy becomes difficult she "goes and seeks G-d (or literally, gets a drash, an explanation from G-d). What does this mean? Can people still directly inquire of G-d? [B'reishit 25:22]
3. Jacob is named "he will heel" and Esau is named "made" or "completed. What do these names teach us about their distinct personalities? [B'reishit 25:25-26].
A Word
A prayer for someone else is more likely to be a selfless prayer. To pray for our own achievements is less of a prayer and more of a statement of desire. To pray to G-d for someone else's well being is to elevate the needs of another. We are taught that the proof that someone really loves G-d is found in the way they treat and think of others. Rashi teaches us that Rebecca found her insight about her pregnancy at Shem's Beit Midrash, the Yeshiva of the Son of Noah. Today we find knowledge and inspiration in the meditations of our heart and through the collected revelations of our people and its teachers. Jacob was named heel, but becomes a Prince or a Seer of G-d. Esau was born with a full body of hair like a grown man, but spiritually and intellectually never became a fully developed leader. At times we must put the good of others over our own, we should realize that the answer can come within or from outside help, and understand that our true potentials are not to be judged on face value alone.
Prepared by Rabbi Shalom Bochner, executive director, Santa Cruz Hillel Foundation.
Learn More
Additional commentaries and text studies on Parshat Toledot at MyJewishLearning.com.
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