What is your most favorite outfit of clothing? For what special occasion did you wear it?
In Parashat Toldot we are told, “ותקח רבקה את בגדי עשו בנה הגדל החמדת – Rivka took her oldest son, Eisav’s, favorite outfit, and she placed it on Yaakov.” Of course, she was preparing Yaakov – we are all familiar with the story – to deceive his father Yitzchak, so that he would receive the blessing of the ‘בכור’ – the firstborn.
But if Eisav had a favorite outfit, why wasn’t it in his own home? What was it doing in the home of his parents, Yitzchak and Rivka?
Our Sages explain that Eisav kept his favorite outfit in his parents’ home so that when he appeared before his father, such was the deep respect he had for him, he would always change into his smartest clothes.
But wasn’t Yitzchak blind? If he couldn’t see what Eisav looked like, surely his clothes made no difference whatsoever?
The answer is that Eisav’s respect for his father was totally sincere. Of course, it would be nice for his father to see that he respected him but that was not why he was doing it.
I believe there are two important messages that emerge from this, for us and for all time.
The first is that when it comes to ‘כיבוד אב ואם’ – the respect we must have for our parents, like that of Eisav, should be natural. Not just to check the box to let our parents know that we are respecting them but rather, whether we are in their presence, outside of their presence, or well beyond their lifetime, we should continue to respect their wishes and to live according to the values that they taught to us.
There is a second message. Over Shabbat Parshat Toldot, Eisav gets a lot of bad press. Within shuls right around the world we highlight what a ‘צדיק’ – a righteous person, Yaakov was and what a rotten apple Eisav was.
But right in the midst of this story we highlight the fact that Eisav did excel in one area: the respect that he had for his father. This reminds us of that great teaching in Ethics of the Fathers. “אין לך אדם שאין לו שעה – There is not a single person on Earth who doesn’t have his or her moment.”
We learn something from everyone. As some people say, ‘Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day’.
So let us take this further and lets pray together with praise and gratitude to Hashem for the great miracle we have witnessed - the release and safe return of the living hostages. With hearts full of thanks, we acknowledge His endless kindness and mercy, and we pray that those who have returned home find healing, strength, and peace after all they have endured.
We also continue to pray for the release of the remaining hostage bodies and Divine Protection over our courageous IDF soldiers, police officers, medical teams, firefighters, ZAKA members, security forces, and every individual who stands in defense of our people - in Israel and throughout the world.
May all who are in need, be blessed with healing, yeshuot, shidduchim, children, and parnassah tova, and may we be blessed to have just continuous joy and to only go from one simcha through to the next, the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual and sweet Shabbat.
Yes indeed, a missing letter of the Torah provides us
NO MITZVOT IN THIS PARSHA
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 106
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1432
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 5426
HAFTORA: Malachi 1:1-2:7
