In this week’s Parsha Yitzchak Avinu wanted to give Esav the blessings. It was Pesach and he sent Esav to bring some hunted meat, prepare it for him and then he would bless him.
Rivka heard Yitzchak’s plan. She went and quickly prepared two goats, called Yaakov, told him to take it into Yitzchak and receive the blessings.
Although Yitzchak was blind, Yaakov was still sure Yitzchak would recognize him. Rivka gave Yaakov Esav’s hairy clothing to wear and commanded him to go and cunningly receive the blessings.
Yitzchak wasn’t sure who had come. On one hand the clothing felt like Esav, nice and hairy; but the voice and the way of talk sounded like Yaakov. In the end, Yitzchak decided that it was Esav, he ate the prepared dinner and gave Yaakov the blessings.
Just after Yaakov left the room, Esav entered with his food and came to offer his father dinner and receive the blessings.
Yitzchak started trembling from fear, realizing he had been fooled. He said to Esav, “who was the one that hunted and brought me food and I ate before you came, and I blessed him, may he blessed.”
Yitzchak had just realized that he had been fooled and he had mistakenly given the blessings to the wrong person. But instead of regretting his actions and saying that Yaakov shouldn’t be blessed, he said that Yaakov should be blessed. Furthermore, Yitzchak told Esav, “your brother came cleverly and took your blessings.” Why was Yitzchak telling Esav how cleverly Yaakov managed to trick him. Isn’t this Lashon Harah? Why didn’t Yitzchak change the type of blessings he gave Eisav without telling him what had happened?
We all know that Hashem created the whole world for Klal Yisrael, the human beings that would recognize Hashem is the Creator and serve Him. Even so we find that Hashem created everyone differently. Some people very smart and clever, some people dumb and stupid. Different people have different talents. Why did Hashem do this?
The answer is that if everyone was the same, everyone would try and do the same thing, strive for spiritual growth and study Torah. But how would the world exist? Who would build houses, design furniture, manufacture food, plow, sow seeds in the fields, harvest, bake, make clothing, design and create all different sorts of metals, who would be the architects, engineers, lawyers, plumbers, doctors.
Therefore Hashem created different sorts of people, each that can grow to be an expert in their field.
Those that have the ability to study and those that are talented in physical production.
The Chafetz Chaim came to Warsaw for a communal issue. Throngs of people came to see him and receive his blessings or advice. Amongst the visitors was a father and his ten year old son.
“Rebbi, please bless my son he should want to study and listen in class. He just sits and dreams in class.”
“Does he have the ability and brains to learn,” asked the Chafetz Chaim?
“His teacher is amazed from his sharp mind, he has a brilliant memory, clarity in understanding, but he just sits and daydreams.”
The boy wasn’t moved. His father had lectured him, his teacher had lectured him and now the Rabbi would lecture him and then he’ll move on.
The Chafetz Chaim took the boys hand and softly stroked it.
“My dear child, please don’t turn Hashem into a fool.”
The boy perked up. What had he done to ridicule Hashem, G-d forbid.
“Let me tell you a story,” said the Chafetz Chaim.
Many years ago the shoemakers arranged a delegation that would represent them to Hashem. They had a complaint. Why is it that the Rabbis are the ones blessed with such sharp brains, brilliant minds and phenomenal memories? Many are even blessed with amazing talent of public speaking too. Why were the shoemakers left out?
Hashem replied that they are ungrateful for the talents He gave them. Does any Rabbi know how to make a good pair of boots? The expertise in designing and fitting; the soles, heel, straps. Which Rabbi can produce a quality pair of boots? Hashem blessed the shoemakers with amazing physical talents. Everyone gets what they deserve.
The shoemakers heard, understood and calmed down.
“But that was until now,” said the Chafetz Chaim, “because now that is all going to change.”
“Your father and your teachers all testify that you are a very bright kid, just you’re not interested in studying. Ok, so you won’t be a Rabbi. But you do need some source of income. So you’ll end up being a shoemaker. But Hashem didn’t bless you with the talents to be a good shoemaker, so you’ll be a poor shoemaker. Your boots will be a disaster and sell for a few kopecks. But that is your decision.”
“However,” continued the Chafetz Chaim, “the shoemakers will send another delegation and complain to Hashem that there is a shoemaker that is blessed with the talents of a Rabbi, what about us? What will Hashem answer then? Please don’t put Hashem into such a mess. You have such amazing talents, use them!”
Yitzchak understood who Esav and Yaakov were. He knew that Yaakov sat and learned and Esav was in the fields. But Yitzchak thought that Yaakov was naïve, he wasn’t cut out to do business. Yitzchak understood that if so, Esav and Yaakov each have a different task in life. Yaakov will spend his life in the Beis Hamedrash, Esav will be the businessman that supports him. The equivalent of the tribe of Levi. They served in the Beis Hamikdash and Klal Yisrael provided them with livelihood and the 24 gifts of Kehuna.
Yitzchak was sure that in the same way that Esav provided him with food, he would do the same to Yaakov and therefore wanted to give the worldly blessings to Esav.
Rivka understood the real Esav, she understood that Esav wasn’t supporting his father because he was studying Torah, only because he was honoring his father. She knew that he wouldn’t support Yaakov, on the contrary, he would neglect him. She understood that Yaakov would need to worry about his own income too. Yaakov would have all sorts of descendants. Some that would study and some that would work. Therefore she made sure that Yaakov received the blessings.
When Yitzchak saw that Yaakov had managed to deceive him and receive the blessings he realized that Yaakov wasn’t naïve after all. If so he can manage worldly matters too. He told Esav, “your brother came smartly and took your blessings,” he’s sharp and not naïve, if so he is worthy of the worldly blessings too.
In addition, now Yitzchak understood that Eisav was a danger for Yaakov, so besides giving him different blessings, he told Eisav that he should know that it was Yaakov who took the Berachos so he should hate him and keep his distance from. This was to make sure that Yaakov stays away from Eisav and doesn’t get influenced by his evil ways.
This answers why Yitzchok told out for Eisav who was to blame without just giving different blessings.
