Parashat Toldot Analysis

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Shabbat Shalom. This week’s parasha, parashat Toldot, focuses on sibling rivalry. In the Torah, siblings have always been at odds in one way or another. One of the most drastic examples is Kane and Able, the first siblings in the Torah. Their relationship was torn apart because of a rivalry. The rivalry ended with fratricide when Kane rose up and killed Able.
In this morning’s parasha, we learn that Rifka’s two sons are struggling inside her. Rifka then goes to G-d and is told that the older son will serve the younger son. ורב יעבד ציר.When the twins are born, the younger son Yaakov, is holding onto Esau, the older son’s ankle. Why does he do this? He might have been trying to push Esau aside. Maybe he was searching for his brother’s Achilles …show more content…

Little did they know that Rifka was listening and relaying the message to Yaakov. Rifka tells Yaakov to bring her two baby goats so they can make the meal first. Rifka then dresses Yaakov in Esau’s clothes. Why are Esau’s clothes in his mother’s house when he is a grown man? Rashi explains that Esau does not trust his wives. Rabbi Johnathon Sax provides us with a beautiful explanation. According to Sax Esau had great respect for his father. He would remove his hunter’s clothes and put on his finest clothes when he came to visit his father. Rifka is sure her plan will work whereas Yaakov is skeptical that his father will fall for their switch, but instead of pointing out that it is wrong to trick Yitzchak, Yaavok simply says: what if my father gives me a קללה ולא ברכה a curse and not a blessing. Yaakov tricks his father and receives the blessing just in time because Esau comes back from the field and is enraged when he discovers that his blessing is gone. When Rifka realizes that Yaakov could be in danger she sends him away to her brother Lavan the trickster of the tricksters. Takes one to know one right? Yaakov successfully tricks his father and receives the blessing, but in return what does he lose. He is separated from his family for 20 years. During that time, he was unaware to what was happening with the rest of his family. Toldot ends with Yaakov running away from

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