Avraham's Hidden Presence

Parshat Toldot focuses on Yitzchak Avinu, his wife Rivka, and their children, Yaakov and Eisav.

While previous Parshiyot detailed the life of Avraham Avinu and even recorded his passing, Toldot shifts attention to the next generation.

Who Named Yaakov? — Avraham Avinu

Although Avraham's passing was mentioned earlier, he was still alive when his grandchildren were born — he only passed away when they turned 15. Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid presents an intriguing insight: Avraham himself was the one who named his grandson Yaakov.

The Torah states:

וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב.
And he named him Yaakov.

but does not specify who gave him this name. The Gematria of וַיִּקְרָא (he called) is 317, which is the same as אברהם אבינו (Avraham Avinu), hinting that Avraham was the one who named him.

Yaakov's Mourning Dish for Avraham

Another subtle reference to Avraham appears later in the Parsha, on the day of his passing. The Torah describes Yaakov cooking a dish when Eisav returns from the field and demands some.

What was Yaakov preparing? Our sages explain that this was the customary mourner's dish for Yitzchak, as Avraham had just passed away.

Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid finds another numerical clue:

The phrase וַיָּזֶד יַעֲקֹב נָזִיד (Now Yaakov cooked a pottage) has the same Gematria as אֵבֶל אַבְרָהָם (the mourning of Avraham), further emphasizing that this event occurred on the day of Avraham's passing.