Stealing the Blessings

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I am Esau Your Firstborn - And Now, My Son, Listen to My Voice
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 35 minutes
Rivka is often viewed as the heroine in the story of the blessings: she disguises Yaakov as Esav so that her younger son will receive Yitzchak's blessing. The problematic deception, and the ensuing separation, exile, and suffering point to another perspective in the story. Does Rivka's daring plan exemplify the importance of human initiative alongside Divine Providence, or is it a tragic mistake?
The Moral Dimension of the Story of Yitzchak's Blessings
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
There are a few moral problems which arise this week in the tale of Yitzchak's blessings. This story presents two thorny problems: first, the tricking of a blind old man, using his vulnerability in order to deceive him into blessing the son whom he had not intended to bless; second, the taking of a blessing which was intended for the older twin by the younger, an act which causes deep pain and impotent anger on the part of the swindled brother. Two people are responsible for this deception: Rivka, who instigates, directs and abets this act, and Ya'akov, who despite his initial hesitation, executes this act to its completion. How does the Torah assess the questionable behavior of Rivka and Ya'akov? In order to answer this question, we will analyze both the text of the story, as well as what precedes and follows it, in order to glean an explanation to this episode.
"And the Children Strove Within Her"
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The first part of this article deals with the story of the birth of Yaakov and Esav and establishes that their birth set the tone for the experiences they underwent in their youth. The second part of the article discusses the influence of their birth story on the future events in Yaakov and Esav's lives, and particularly the story of the stolen blessing.
And Now, my Son, Listen to my Voice
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman
Rivka is often viewed as the heroine in the story of the blessings: she disguises Yaakov as Esav so that her younger son will receive Yitzchak's blessing. The problematic deception, and the ensuing separation, exile, and suffering point to another perspective in the story. Does Rivka's daring plan exemplify the importance of human initiative alongside Divine Providence, or is it a tragic mistake?
Three Different Blessings
Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot
This shiur examines the three blessings that Yaakov receives: From Yitzhak when he impersonates Esav, from Yitzhak when he leaves for Haran, and from God in the ladder dream. What is the significance of each of these separate blessings?

Through an examination of these blessings, we learn that they continue the blessings to Avraham, and particularly the two covenants: the Covenant Between the Parts, and the Covenant of Circumcision. The general significance of this understanding is that the blessing and selection of Avraham are passed on in their entirety, with all their components, to Yaakov. And each blessing relates to a different one of God's Names, since each Divine Name reflects a different aspect of Divine manifestation in the world.
Dividing the Berakhot
Rabbi Ezra Bick
The question of why Yitzchak wanted to give Esav the berakhot (blessings) is one of the most widely discussed by commentators on Bereishit. This article approaches this question by providing insight into the different world views experienced by Ytizchak and Rivka, and their vastly different character traits, which serves as the reasoning behind Yitzchak wanting to bless Esav, and Rivka ultimately plotting to steal the blessing for Yaakov.
"Give Truth to Yaakov"
Rabbi Zeev Weitman
The story of the birth of Yaakov and Esav, their upbringing, the stolen blessing, and Yaakov's departure to Haran can be seen as two separate narratives, attempting to grapple with the problematic theme of trickery and deceit.

The synthesis of these two narratives entails drawing a distinction between the two blessings. There is the blessing of Avraham, which relates to the destiny of descendants and of the land, while the other blessing involves power and material abundance. The synthesis of these two stories also suggests that while on one hand, Yaakov and his descendants are chosen by God because of their special and unique merit, at the same time, there is also a Divine decision that has no apparent reason and does not arise from any inherent quality.
Midrashic Setting of Yitzhak's Blessings to his Sons: Pesach or Rosh HaShana
Rabbi David Silverberg
Yosef and his Brothers: Choice and Rejection
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
The rejection and choice of sons is a theme throughout the book of Breisheet. This principle may have guided the Yosef's brothers to reject him by selling him into slavery. Likewise, this principle may explain why Yosef never contacted his father – an understanding that he was the rejected son.

When his brothers come to Egypt, Yosef realizes that this is not the case. As his dreams told him, he must be a leader to his brothers: bring them to repent and reunite his shattered family.
Vayechi Yaakov - Vayechi Yosef
Prof. Jonathan Grossman
The title of our parasha would seem to introduce a summary of Yaakov's life, but in fact this parasha - which concludes Sefer Bereishit - closes three different circles.

All of the last few parashot (starting from Vayeshev) have followed a single continuum, dealing with the same story - that of Yosef and his brothers. The story as a whole has three principal heroes who take center stage in turns: Yaakov, the brothers (and, as we have seen in Parashat Vayeshev, Yehuda sometimes serves to represent all the brothers), and Yosef. Our parasha closes three separate circles related to these three heroes. By closely examining the parsha, we notice how all three circles relate to each other, and how they serve as a summary of the different (but interrelated) stories.
Targum Onkelos
Dr. Avigail Rock
In this first lesson of the series Targum Onkelos is examined. There is no doubt that Targum Onkelos succeeded, for over a millennium, in maintaining its honored place in the Jewish community as the authoritative translation of the Torah. In every publication of the Torah with commentaries, Targum Onkelos maintains its place of honor, and throughout the Jewish world, the weekly study of the Targum is a halakhic obligation.

The challenges, difficulties and limitations of any translation of the Bible are visited as well as the specific overarching principles of Targum Onkelos that include:
- Simple translation of the text without details from the Midrash
- Avoids the anthropomorphization of God
- Explanation – not translation – of metaphors
- Explanation – not translation – of biblical poetry
- Varying translations of similar terms in different contexts in order to avoid the desecration of God’s name
- Maintain the dignity of the leaders of the Jewish nation, often concealing questionable actions
- In accordance with Halakha
Rashi
Part 4 - The Moral and Educational Philosophy of Rashi (II)
Dr. Avigail Rock
In his commentaries, Rashi displays great sensitivity towards the people in society who are indigent or powerless, who have no defenders. This compassion for the disadvantaged is expressed in numerous ways.

Rashi expresses great affection for the forebears of Israel, the Patriarchs, the Matriarchs, and the Twelve Tribes. This regard is expressed in two areas. The first is an attempt to minimize — to the level of obscuring the very progression of the biblical text — the negative traits or acts which are attributed in Scripture to Israel’s forebears and its role models. The second is the glorification of acts that seem to be insignificant.
Rashi
Part 7 - Rashi and Christianity (II)
Dr. Avigail Rock
In the Torah itself, we find the following pro-Israel and anti-Christian trends in Rashi's commentary that appear to be a response to Christianity:
- The Eternal Selection of Jewish Nation
- The Jewish Nation as a Moral People
- The demonization of Esav as a symbol of Christianity
- The defense of Yaakov and his entitlement to the birthrite and the blessings
These interpretations of Rashi cannot be seen only as encouraging the Jewish community at a time of persecution; it appears that Rashi’s aim is to teach his generation how to answer theological challenges.
Radak - Rav David Kimchi
Dr. Avigail Rock
The Radak — R. David Kimchi — was born and active in Provence, in southern France, near Spain. The Radak was a member of a family of Spanish grammarians and exegetes. Like R. Avraham ibn Ezra, the Kimchi family brought the fundamentals of linguistics and grammar from Spain to France.

Despite the fact that Radak sees himself as a pashtan, he does not hesitate to cite derash. However, when the Radak quotes these sources, it is obvious that he has a distinction between peshat and derash.

Two principles guide the Radak in citing Midrashic sources:
- When it is difficult to resolve the peshat without the derash.
- For the lovers of derash - in order to explain the text and engage his readers.
The view of the Radak is that the Torah is not a historical tome. Those stories of the Patriarchs which have been selected to put into the Torah with all of its details must fulfill one criterion: teaching a moral lesson.

Just as one may learn from the positive acts of the forefathers, so one may learn from their negative acts. The Radak does not engage in apologetics; instead, he writes explicitly that the narratives which describe the negative acts of the Patriarchs have been written in order to help us avoid this sort of behavior.

The Radak points out consistently that the Torah often uses repetitious language, not because each word introduces new meaning, but because the verse seeks to stress the significance of a given issue. This view stands in stark contrast to that of Rashi, who argues that generally speaking, one must assign meaning to every word, as there cannot be any redundancy in the biblical text.
Was Jacob Right To Take Esau’s Blessing?
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Was Jacob right to take Esau’s blessing in disguise? Was he right to deceive his father and to take from his brother the blessing Isaac sought to give him? Was Rivka right in conceiving the plan in the first place and encouraging Jacob to carry it out? These are fundamental questions dealing with this episode. We can attempt to answer these questions by suggesting two dramatically different readings of this narrative.

This article is part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Was Jacob Right To Take Esau’s Blessing? (Audio)
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | 13 minutes
Was Jacob right to take Esau’s blessing in disguise? Was he right to deceive his father and to take from his brother the blessing Isaac sought to give him? Was Rivka right in conceiving the plan in the first place and encouraging Jacob to carry it out? These are fundamental questions dealing with this episode. We can attempt to answer these questions by suggesting two dramatically different readings of this narrative.

This lecture this part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Vayeitzei: Consequences of Jacob's Deceit
Rabbi David Fohrman |
Last week, we saw Jacob trick his father Isaac and stole Esau's birthright, devastating his brother and causing him to cry. Are we really meant to applaud Jacob's behavior? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman explores the scene when Jacob and Rachel first meet, in which Jacob too cries. Through a deeper understanding of this midrash, we are shown special insights into the text and can begin to understand how Jacob can be called a man of truth.

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Becoming a Person of Integrity
Rabbi David Fohrman |
How do we reconcile Jacob's behavior, tricking his brother and lying to his father, with our vision of Yaakov as an ish emet, a man of truth? Through an analysis of several seemingly unimportant details, we will connect two stories in which Yaakov is a central character and understand what it means to develop into a person of character.

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Parshat Toldot Part 4: Masquerading as Esav
Rabbi Gad Dishi | 32 minutes
Chapter 27 describes the episode whereby Yaakov steals Yitzchak’s blessings from Esav. What can we learn from this story? A close examination of the text reveals some additional details to the narrative that can shed some light on its message.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com
Parshat Toldot Part 5: Usurping the Blessings
Rabbi Gad Dishi | 27 minutes
This podcast is the second one dealing with perek 27, in which Yitzchak realizes he had been deceived by Yaakov who usurped Esav’s blessing. We discuss the concept of dishonesty in this episode as well as the ideas behind the meanings of the blessings received by the sons.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com
Parshat Toldot Part 6: Separation of Powers
Rabbi Gad Dishi | 18 minutes
This final podcast of Parshat Toldot deals with the aftermath of the blessing narrative, in which Esav vows to kill Yaakov, and Yaakov leaves on a journey to find a wife.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com
The Taking of the Blessings – Means vs. Ends
Dr. Brachi Elitzur
At the center of our parasha is the story of how Yaakov obtains the blessings meant for Esav, his brother. In the midrashim that serve as background to Rashi's well-known explanations, Chazal take a positive view of Yaakov's actions, justifying and legitimizing his taking of the blessings, while Esav stands accused of the most demonic sins in the history of man, sins whose connection with the plain text seems far-fetched. In this shiur, we will explore the difficulty of discovering the textual evaluation of Yaakov's act. Close examination of the literary devices employed by the text will reveal an ambivalent and undecided stance in relation to the act of deception, and we will try to understand what message this equivocation means to convey.
Birthrights and Blessings
Rabbi Yair Kahn
Upon reaching old age, Yitzchak decides to bless his first born and favorite son – Esav. Rivka overhears the plan and concocts a plot to “steal” the berakhot for Yaakov, her favorite. The plot succeeds and Yaakov is blessed. This story raises many serious exegetical and ethical issues. How could Yitzchak be fooled by Esav? Why was it necessary to trick Yitzchak? Why couldn’t Rivka simply have spoken to her husband? How can fooling one’s elderly blind father be considered ethically acceptable behavior? On the other hand, if it’s not ethical, do ends justify the means? Through a close analysis of the text we will present two approaches, which deal with the difficulties in very different ways and discuss the question of human involvement in God’s plan.