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Android). I hope you enjoy and share this Dvar...
Parshat Toldot tells the story of Yaakov (Jacob) and Esav, two brothers
that couldn’t be any more different. When their father Yitzchok (Isaac)
decides that it’s time to bless his two sons, Yaakov ends up getting the
better of the two blessings. In comparing the two blessings, though, the
Chafetz Chaim observes: When Yaakov gets the blessing, the Torah says “And
may G-d give you of the dew of the heavens and of the fatness of the earth”
(27:28). However, when Esav gets his blessing, Yitzchok says “Behold, of
the fatness of the earth shall be your dwelling and of the dew of the
heavens from above” (27:39). Why was the order of the fatness and the dew
reversed?
The Chafetz Chaim explains that since Yaakov preferred the spiritual to the
physical, his blessing came from heaven (dew) to earth (fatness of the
earth). On the other hand, since Esav valued the physical more, his
blessing was customized to his desires by focusing on the physical first.
While that answers the question, there’s a much deeper lesson to be
learned: Because Yaakov focused on heaven and the chain of where things
come from, he realized that he’s being given of the dew of the heavens,
which produces the fatness of the earth, and consequently thanked the
source, G-d. Contrarily, as the verse adds, Esav’s fatness was simply his
“dwelling”, as if it were there all along, with no connection to where it
came from, and therefore no appreciation for its source. Yaakov was blessed
with the ability to see beyond what was in front of him, and therefore
appreciated it (and G-d) more. We too are given that same opportunity every
day, and all we have to do is stop and think about what we have and where
it really came from. Only then will we ever truly be content, fulfilled,
and most importantly, blessed.
Shlomo Ressler
Quotation of the week:
"Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have."
This Lelamed Dvar is also available in your local App Store (iTunes and
Android). I hope you enjoy and share this Dvar...
_______________________________________________
Parshat Toldot tells the story of Yaakov (Jacob) and Esav, two brothers
that couldn’t be any more different. When their father Yitzchok (Isaac)
decides that it’s time to bless his two sons, Yaakov ends up getting the
better of the two blessings. In comparing the two blessings, though, the
Chafetz Chaim observes: When Yaakov gets the blessing, the Torah says “And
may G-d give you of the dew of the heavens and of the fatness of the earth”
(27:28). However, when Esav gets his blessing, Yitzchok says “Behold, of
the fatness of the earth shall be your dwelling and of the dew of the
heavens from above” (27:39). Why was the order of the fatness and the dew
reversed?
The Chafetz Chaim explains that since Yaakov preferred the spiritual to the
physical, his blessing came from heaven (dew) to earth (fatness of the
earth). On the other hand, since Esav valued the physical more, his
blessing was customized to his desires by focusing on the physical first.
While that answers the question, there’s a much deeper lesson to be
learned: Because Yaakov focused on heaven and the chain of where things
come from, he realized that he’s being given of the dew of the heavens,
which produces the fatness of the earth, and consequently thanked the
source, G-d. Contrarily, as the verse adds, Esav’s fatness was simply his
“dwelling”, as if it were there all along, with no connection to where it
came from, and therefore no appreciation for its source. Yaakov was blessed
with the ability to see beyond what was in front of him, and therefore
appreciated it (and G-d) more. We too are given that same opportunity every
day, and all we have to do is stop and think about what we have and where
it really came from. Only then will we ever truly be content, fulfilled,
and most importantly, blessed.
Shlomo Ressler
_______________________________________________
Quotation of the week:
"Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have."
