B"H

Wednesday, Cheshvan 29, 5777 / November 30, 2016

The following are highlights of this week's Parsha, Toldot. Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebecca) have been married for 20 years and did not have children. G-d answered their prayers and Rivkah conceived twins. During her pregnancy, "the children struggled within her." 

Concerned, Rivkah went to the prophet of the time, Shem, son of Noah, to inquire the meaning of this struggle. Shem told her, "Two nations are in your womb and two peoples shall be separated from you, one will be stronger than the other and the elder one shall serve the younger one."

When Rivkah gave birth, "The first came forth ruddy, covered with hair like a hairy mantle and they called his name Esau. After that came forth his brother, and his hand was holding unto Esau's heel; and he called his name Yaakov (Jacob)."

The struggle between Esau and Yaakov, which began while they were yet in their mother's womb, continued throughout their life.

Yitzchak, who was blind, thought that Esau was a pious person. Esau fooled his father by asking questions that indicated piety and a very religious nature. Rivkah knew the true character of her son, Esau. Yet, in order not to cause her husband pain, she didn't reveal to him, Esau's true identity.

When Yitzchak told Esau to prepare him food so that he may receive his blessings, Rivkah prepared food and commanded Yaakov to bring it to his father, pretending that he was Esau, so that he will receive the blessings. To protect her son from discovery, Rivkah dresses Yaakov in Esau's clothes and puts the goat skins upon Yaakov's hands so that when Yitzchak touches him he will feel hairy, just like Esau. Yaakov did as his mother told him and brought the food to his father.

Yitzchak exclaimed, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov but the hands are the hands of Esau." Yitzchak then gave Yaakov the blessings which were intended for Esau.

When Esau learned that Yaakov had taken his blessings, he decided to wait until his father's death, then take his revenge. Rivkah learned of Esau's plan and told Yaakov, "Your brother Esau wants to kill you. Now, therefore my son, flee to my brother Lavan to Charan." 

With the blessings of his parents, Yaakov left home to his uncle Lavan. Yitzchak blesses Yaakov before he leaves and tells him, "Go to Padan Aram, to the house of Betuel, your mother's father, and take a wife from the daughters of Lavan, your mother's brother.  And the Al-mighty shall bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you."

In Yitzchak's words, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov," our sages find the connection between charity and prayer. The word "Kol" (voice) which refers to prayer is the same numerical value as "Mamon" - "money" (136). This teaches us that prayer and charity-Tzedakah go hand in hand.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY