What are the plans of Yitzchok Ovinu for his twin sons? How does he deal with Aysov, his firstborn son? What happens in the end? And what does all this mean for us today?
First of all, we have to realize that Yitzchok Ovinu was perfectly aware of who Aysov was — Aysov was a nephew of the sly and devious Lavvan and sons generally take after their maternal uncles. Sure, the Possuk says that Yitzchok loved Aysov and Rivka loved Yaakov but that does not mean that Yitzchok did not love Yaakov! Nor, for that matter, does it mean that Rivka did not love Aysov, either (at least initially). He was a good son to both his parents. In addition, any sensible parents know that if a child is more challenging, like Aysov obviously was, that calls for even more love and careful attention and Yitzchok Ovinu and Rivka Immaynu were at least as clever as any sensible parents of today! Furthermore, we must not imagine even for a moment that Yitzchok Ovinu was truly hoodwinked by Aysov’s trick questions about how to take Maaser from straw and salt, etc.. Yitzchok and Rivka were both also fully aware of Aysov’s carryings-on. “It was a bitter disappointment to Yitzchok and to Rivka,” the Possuk tells us. And this was so, right up till when Yitzchok was preparing to give his firstborn son his Brochoh, and beyond.
So we are forced to ask, What does Yitzchok Ovinu mean when he summons his son Aysov to give him his Brochoh “before I die”? Does he really intend that Aysov, and not Yaakov, should be his successor?
There is a very great difference between Yitzchok and Rivka in this whole affair and it is this: Rivka, and only Rivka, has been told that the lives and destinies of her two sons, even though they are twins, are going to be so different. Only Rivka has been told that her twin sons will be moved by two utterly contrasting value-systems and that they will develop into two completely different peoples, later to be summed up as the “Might is Right!” of Aysov, and the “Right is Might!” of Yaakov. Yitzchok has not been told this; Avrohom (without a doubt, Rivka had asked him, too) also has not been told this. Yitzchok, therefore, even though he is greatly troubled by how Aysov is turning out, has no reason to doubt that his twin sons would eventually grow up into one people, with Aysov, his firstborn, being the leader of this people, providing the physical, material side of this “People of Avrohom” (so necessary in this physical, material world) and Yaakov providing the main spiritual, holy, component.
But Rivka knows otherwise because she alone has been told the prophecy of the two separate peoples and just because only she was told, she knows too that she is bound to secrecy. Why? She does not know the reason for that secrecy. HaShem has a plan, of that she is sure. But meantime, all she can do is to try to make Yitzchok aware of the utter unsuitability of Aysov and his descendants to be part of the People of HaShem — but without telling him so explicitly. Hence her trick to show Yitzchok how he was deceiving himself about Aysov.
The trick works. After Yaakov takes the Brochoh that was intended for Aysov (a Brochoh, it will be noted, of all the physical and material things that Yitzchok thinks will be needed by Aysov) Yitzchok does realize what has happened and he “sees the gates of Gehinnom open at his feet” (Rashi). Yitzchok is aware that he has been tricked simply because he, Yitzchok, wanted to believe that it was Aysov who was standing there. He comes to the realization of the stark truth, that in the same way he has deceived himself that it was Aysov just now, so too has he been wrong all these years in his hopes for Aysov his firstborn son; that Rivka, who had been trying to tell him that he was wrong about Aysov — she has been right all along. Yitzchok realizes that all his hopes for his eldest son were in vain, all his strivings, all his plans, were wrong, were nothing. And there is no greater Gehinnom on this earth than to see that one has lived one’s life as a mistake, that one’s dreams and aspirations are shattered.
But has Aysov then no part in the future and destiny of the Jewish People? Not any more as a part of that People, no. But Aysov does indeed have a part in the destiny of the Jewish People. How? By Aysov, and the descendants of Aysov, having an implacable hatred for the descendants of his brother Yaakov — in that way will the People of Yaakov be separate and stay separate and be saved from contamination, from assimilation — and from annihilation.
The greatness of Yitzchok Ovinu is seen in his immediate acceptance that Rivka is right and that he is mistaken in his hopes for Aysov. On the spot, Yitzchok changes his whole attitude, in an instant he transforms his lifelong hopes for Aysov to be part of the People of HaShem and casts him outside of that People. That’s greatness — and sheer genius! Immediately, he tells Aysov: “Your brother has come with cunning and taken your Brochoh!” Yes, Aysov, hate him for it! And your hatred for Yaakov your twin brother will keep Yaakov pure and his descendants separate — from you! Aysov, you have no part in the People of Avrohom, in the People of HaShem. But you do have a part in keeping them holy and separate. Your hatred will do that, till that great day will come when you, too, will accept that Yaakov is the People of HaShem who is to ennoble all Mankind in serving HaShem.
Of course, we don’t like anti-Semitism. It has been horribly cruel and has done us terrible harm. But we must see it as part of HaShem’s scheme of things, to keep us separate, to preserve us. That is the Tachlis of the Christian peoples of Aysov (and their copy-cat Johnny-come-lately Muslims — yes, Yishmoel and his descendants have the same Tachlis to keep the Jewish People separate). When we remember to keep to our task, to keep the Torah and observe the Mitsvos as the People of HaShem, then there is no need for the peoples of Aysov or Yishmoel to keep us separate or to remind us of our task and our mission. But if we should forget our great purpose, then HaShem sends His sheepdogs to frighten His straying lambs back into the fold. That is the Tachlis of Aysov (and Yishmoel) — they have a part in our destiny as the People of HaShem, but from outside of the Jewish People. The descendants of Aysov (and Yishmoel) shall ensure that all the families of Mankind, including the descendants of Aysov and Yishmoel themselves, shall learn from our example to serve HaShem properly, so that, “on that day, HaShem will be One and will be universally recognized as One,” and all Mankind will be united in happiness and spiritual fulfilment under the Sovereignty of HaShem.
