TOLDOT 25:19-28:-28:9
Simeon Solomon, 1863. © Victoria & Albert Museum.
In this week's Parshah we learn about the powerful spirituality of Isaac and Rebecca:
ַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיהֹוָה֙ לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא
At 25:21 "Isaac pleaded (or prayed) to the Lord on behalf his wife because she was barren..."
And we learn at 25:22 when Rebecca became pregnant with twins they struggled within her, and she sought an answer from Hashem as to what was going on.
וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְר֥שׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה" And she went to demand of Hashem".
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In this week's parshah at 26:12, one of the things that intrigues me is that Isaac is a farmer, not only a herdsman, and he does alright for a tiller of the soil.
יב וַיִּזְרַע יִצְחָק בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא, וַיִּמְצָא בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא מֵאָה שְׁעָרִים; וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ, יְהוָה.
"And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found in that year a hundred fold, and the Lord blessed him".
His Philistine neighbors became jealous of his success.
They bully him and he is forced to move .
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Where was Esau when Isaac needed him? Esau is touted as being a hunter, a man of the field for which he was very much loved by his passive father, Isaac.
But when Isaac is continuously being bullied, harassed and pushed around by his Philistine neighbors where was Esau?: The Philistines stopped up the wells that had been dug by Abraham (26:15); they force Isaac to move (26:16); he had to move once more because of a quarrel over water (26:22); and finally Isaac settles away from the Philistines and moves back to his early home in Beersheva (26:23).
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The Parsha clearly illustrates that underground water is a property right that rests with the owners of the land. Wells are dug, stopped up and dug again. Isaac is not a land owner, but a sojourner who resides at the tender mercies of his Philistine host. Keep in mind that the Philistines are not native to the land, but acquired their property right by force of arms.
In modern times the right to well water is illustrated in the film “Lawrence of Arabia”. On a journey, Lawrence’s Bedouin guide is killed by Sherif Ali for drinking from the Sherif’s well without permission.
The Parsha clearly illustrates that underground water is a property right that rests with the owners of the land. Wells are dug, stopped up and dug again. Isaac is not a land owner, but a sojourner who resides at the tender mercies of his Philistine host. Keep in mind that the Philistines are not native to the land, but acquired their property right by force of arms.
In modern times the right to well water is illustrated in the film “Lawrence of Arabia”. On a journey, Lawrence’s Bedouin guide is killed by Sherif Ali for drinking from the Sherif’s well without permission.
Esau takes a 3rd wife, one of uncle Ishmael's daughters
In the Parsha at 26:35 Esau at age 40 marries two Hittite (Canaanite) women. Marrying these Canaanite women results in bitterness for Rivkah and Jacob .
וַתִּהְיֶיןָ, מֹרַת רוּחַ, לְיִצְחָק, וּלְרִבְקָה
"And they were a bitterness to the spirit of Isaac and to Rivkah.”
וַתִּהְיֶיןָ, מֹרַת רוּחַ, לְיִצְחָק, וּלְרִבְקָה
"And they were a bitterness to the spirit of Isaac and to Rivkah.”
This negative emotion is similar to that expressed by Job (Iyov) at 7:11 -
גַּם-אֲנִי, לֹא אֶחֱשָׂךְ-פִּי
אֲדַבְּרָה, בְּצַר רוּחִי; אָשִׂיחָה, בְּמַר נַפְשִׁי.
“Neither will I restrain my mouth; I will speak with the anguish of my spirit, I will complain with the bitterness of my soul.”
On its face, It is difficult to see from the text how the two Canaanite brides would be any different than the two Aramean women that Jacob eventually married. They were all idol worshippers. Perhaps the difference is that Jacob's wives were family.
At 28:8-9, upon hearing of his parent's preferences for a suitable mate, Esau marries a daughter of Ishmael, in addition to the two Canaanite wives he already had. This sounds like he did Teshuva...good for him.
You also have to ask why Esau's parents did not find a wife for him in the first instance.
| וַיַּרְא עֵשָׂו, כִּי רָעוֹת בְּנוֹת כְּנָעַן, בְּעֵינֵי, יִצְחָק אָבִיו. |
...וַיֵּלֶךְ עֵשָׂו, אֶל-יִשְׁמָעֵאל; וַיִּקַּח אֶת-מָחֲלַת בַּת-יִשְׁמָעֵאל
"And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing to his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael, and he took Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael..."
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Some of the negative stereotypes about Jews in regard to "Economic Anti-Semitism” or deception of gentiles may be found in the Parsha:
The “swindling” by the bookish brother Jacob of the birthright belonging to his manly brother Esau; the deception of Isaac by Rivka and Jacob in obtaining by trickery the material blessing earmarked for Esau.
Anti-Semitism is a hostility that prejudices or discriminates or demonizes against Jews. In support of his prejudice, the Anti-Semite marks Jews as carrying deviant racial characteristics. We Jews are characterized by the Anti-Semite as not only being partially bad, but totally bad by our inherent nature, that we have inborn incorrigible traits.
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REVISITING THINGS TURKISH: A LESSON IN LIFE
As a boy my favorite 5₵ candy bar was Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy. It was chewy and lasted a long time. I’ve since come to learn that Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy is neither Turkish nor taffy, but I’m good with that. For me it’s a lesson in life.
I also enjoy Turkish coffee, and the orange juice on Turkish Airlines in my opinion is the best in the world. But recently I have been given pause to reflect on things Turkish.
In the the Turkish language, the word for “Jew” is kazıkçı satıcı. OK you ask, so what’s the point? Well, I’ll tell you what’s the point: kazıkçı satıcı is inherent anti-Semitism. It is a permanent, essential, characteristic attribute of you and me. It is how the Turks regard us. Kazıkçı satıcı means “swindler or deceiver or trickster”…another lesson in life.
Consider also that Turkey today hosts the leadership of Hamas. Where does a member of NATO come off to give refuge to a terrorist entity? What does Turkey think about Jews, Israel?
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In the Parshah, from 27:1 - 27:27 we are presented with infirmities associated with advancing years, a phenomenon not unfamiliar to many of us Olim:
Isaac although blind still has a sense of taste and is able to smell and hear. He sends Esau out to get some venison and to make a sweet stew that he very much hopes to enjoy
In the interim, Jacob tries to deceive Isaac. The old man's suspicions are aroused. He senses something odd about the voice of this son asking for a blessing. The boy is hairy like Esau and smells like Esau, but the voice is not quite right. What to do?
Deception, deceit, pathos, anger, fear and flight; this is a tale packed with emotion.
Isaac although blind still has a sense of taste and is able to smell and hear. He sends Esau out to get some venison and to make a sweet stew that he very much hopes to enjoy
In the interim, Jacob tries to deceive Isaac. The old man's suspicions are aroused. He senses something odd about the voice of this son asking for a blessing. The boy is hairy like Esau and smells like Esau, but the voice is not quite right. What to do?
Deception, deceit, pathos, anger, fear and flight; this is a tale packed with emotion.
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Jacob could also have taken a wife from among the Canaanites as did Esau.
But Rebecca would have none of that:
וַתֹּאמֶר רִבְקָה, אֶל-יִצְחָק, קַצְתִּי בְחַיַּי, מִפְּנֵי בְּנוֹת חֵת; אִם-לֹקֵחַ יַעֲקֹב אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת-חֵת כָּאֵלֶּה, מִבְּנוֹת הָאָרֶץ--לָמָּה לִּי, חַיִּים.
At 27:46 -"And Rebecca said to Isaac, "I am disgusted with my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth like these, from the daughters of the land, of what use is life to me?"
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At 28:1-2 Jacob is told by his father to go to Aram, to his Great Uncle Bethuel, and there take a wife from among his Uncle Lavan's daughters.
Hypothetically, Jacob had other choices:
1. He could have been told to go to his Uncle Ishmael's, and take a wife from among Uncle Ishmael’s daughters.
And remember that Ishmael had received a blessing from Hashem at 17:20 in which he would be fruitful, increase in numbers and be the father of 12 princes. As for Bethuel and his son Lavan there is no such blessing. On its face then, going to Ishmael seems the better deal for Jacob.
Speculation: If Jacob had found his soulmate in Uncle Ishmael’s house, and if Hagar turned out to be Pharaoh’s daughter as the Midrash says, then all kinds of good things could have happened.
2. He could have gone to Uncle Lot who had two perhaps available daughters,
3. And if Jacob was worried enough about Esau, he could have sought the protection of Avimelech.
Thank you for playing this What If game with me:
OK, I know: If my Grandmother had a beard she would be my Grandfather.
The obsession to marry only into one's own family, and to marry well calls into question among other things, Abraham's marriage to Keturah.
What was that about?
In today's world, marrying outside the family brings into question assimilation and Jewish survival, Caroline Glick has an opinion on this issue:
https://youtu.be/Ui2WYWqvVDY?si=ADKH-1M60ZWZ6OUT
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However, this year because of the proximity to Rosh Chodesh Kislev the Haftarah portion is from 1Samuel 20:18-42 -
There are two major themes in the Malachi Haftarah verses.
The first has to do with the damnation of Esau. The Prophet gives no reason for the hatred of Esau which I find disturbing. For the most part Esau the warrior is given a bad rap by most commentaries. In contrast, Jacob the Torah scholar is revered by all the other Torah scholars, probably in self service. Today, Israel needs both its warriors Torah scholars.
The second theme is Malachi's problem with the Priesthood. Malachi tells us that the Priests turned away from the correct path, corrupted their covenant, and offered blemished sacrifices. The major responsibility of the Priesthood as a religious authority was to bring us closer to Hashem. In modern times the Rabbinate has supplanted the Priesthood. Are they doing a good job? You can answer that for yourself.
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REVISITING ISHMAEL THROUGH THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS
Ishmael the Archer
On September 15, 2020 Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed a Peace Treaty called the Abraham Accords. This name hearkens back to Abraham, the father of Ishmael and Isaac, two brothers who are the progenitors of Islam and Judaism, the Muslim nations and the State of Israel.
THINGS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT ISHMAEL
- The name יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל Yishmaʿel means 'God will listen', suggesting that God fulfills His promises.
- He will love the wilderness and to hunt.
- Ishmael will not be domesticated. He will contend with his brethren.
- “…he dwelt in the wilderness, and he became an archer”.
Isaac, in contrast to his Father and to Ishmael, was a passive individual. In Hebrew his name is Yitzchak, יִצְחָק means “he will laugh”. I think he was a pleasant person; perhaps he had a benevolent smile. When he meets his future wife, he loves her.
When Abraham passed away both brothers cooperated in a spirit of peace, shared interest and respect. At 25:9 -
וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ יִצְחָק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל, בָּנָיו, אֶל-מְעָרַת, הַמַּכְפֵּלָה
“And Isaac and Ishmael his [Abraham's] sons buried him [Abraham] in the cave of Machpelah,”
As promised by the Angel to Haggar (21:18) : Ishmael will father many children/ Ishmael had 12 sons, each a tribal leader. I take this as meaning that Ishmael will be the Father of the Arab people, much in the way that Jacob is the Father of the Jewish people. They each had 12 Tribes.
I think that when Ishmael spent his formative years under Abraham’s roof that he learned and accepted the concept of one God, the Creator. His children learned from him just as did the children of Jacob. I think Ishmael’s influence paved the way for Mohammed and for Muslims everywhere.
Jews and Muslims, if not exactly brothers, are surely cousins. The Abraham Accords brings about a time in which Jews and Muslims can live together in the spirit of peace. We have shared interests and a shared heritage. It leads to healing and makes for a better future.
However where there are Muslims that murder Jews as part of their credo, the thought of a Muslim- Jewish "kumbaya" is called into question.
In this instance as experienced in Gaza where Hamas slaughtered us , the cockroaches will be exterminated.
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