Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS TOLDOS 5764 BS"D

Ch. 25, v. 22: "Va'teilech lidrosh es Hashem" - When Rivkoh (not yet aware that she was carrying twins) experienced a split personality in her fetus, feeling his eagerness to exit when near the Beis Hamedrash and l'havdil when near a place of idol worship, she went to pursue Hashem. She prayed for a child because she so desperately wanted a child. Seeing that he lacked in holiness even before he was born, she pursued Hashem, now praying for a child who could serve Hashem, and totally negating her personal interests in having a child. (Rabbi Shlomo of Radomsk in Tiferes Shlomo)

Ch. 25, v. 23: "V'rav yaavode tzo'ir" - And one must work a lot to become small and humble. (Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov of Sadigura)

Ch. 26, v. 1: "Va'y'hi ro'ov bo'oretz" - "Vs'y'hi" connotes anguish. There is great pain when there is hunger only "bo'oretz," for physicality, and not for spirituality. (Rabbi Zev of Zhitomir iin Ohr Ha'meir)

Ch. 26, v. 3: "Gur bo'oretz hazose v'e'h'yeh imcho" - Only if you live in this land will I directly be involved with you. He who lives in "chutz lo'oretz" has a ministering angel as a go-between between himself and Hashem. (Rabbi Chaim of Tchernovitz in B'eir Mayim Chaim)

Ch. 26, v. 22: "Uforinu vo'oretz" - And we should be fruitful, accomplishing, in our physical, "artzius," activities. (Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov of Boyan in Nachalas Yaakov)

Ch. 26, v. 28: "Ro'o ro'inu ki hoyoh Hashem imoch" - It is only after doubling our looking into your activities that we see that Hashem was with you. Avrohom served Hashem in an overt manner, raising the banner of belief in one G-d. Yaakov served Hashem in a covert manner, "yosheiv oholim." (Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vorka in B'oho'lei Tzadikim)

Ch. 27, v. 20: "Mah zeh miharto limtzo" - Yitzchok was surprised that his son whom he thought was Eisov returned so quickly from the hunt. Since Yitzchok commanded Eisov to bring him game and to prepare it in a kosher manner (see Baal Haturim on 27:3), he gave Eisov the opportunity to fulfill numerous mitzvos. The evil inclination gets in the way when we attempt to do many mitzvos. This is why Yitzchok was surprised that "Eisov" returned so quickly. (Sar Sholo-m of Belz)

Ch. 27, v. 22: "Hakole kole Yaakov v'ha'yodayim y'dei Eisov" - Rashi says that "the voice of Yaakov" means the refined manner in which he spoke, saying "kum noh," (verse 19). Eisov expressed himself with "yokum ovi" (verse 31). Since Yaakov wanted to successfully impersonate his brother, why indeed didn't he say "yokum ovi" just this one time? We see that Yaakov was capable of impersonating his brother Eisov with coarseness that was external, covering his body with hairy skins and wearing Eisov's garments. However to speak coarsely, as Eisov does, an internal act, was beyond his capacity, even for a fleeting moment. (Mimaynos Ha'netzach)

Ch. 27, v. 29: "He'vei gvir l'achecho" - Even if you are a "gvir," a wealthy person, remain "l'achecho," connected and helpful to your brothers. (Rabbi Avrohom of Slonim)

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