RABBI MORDECHAI KAMENETZKY (Torah.org)
This week’s parsha begins the saga of the long, almost endless struggle between Yaakov and Esav. Yaakov buys the birthright from a hungry Esav and then, coached by his mother, Rivka, he dresses like Esav and receives blessings from his father Yitzchak.
I have received numerous letters throughout the years pondering those actions. Indeed, Yaakov himself is wary of acting in a seemingly devious manner and is reassured by his righteous mother who accepts full responsibility for his actions.
When Esav arrives for the blessings, his father tells him that his younger brother cleverly took all the blessings, but Esav, despondent as he may be declares to his father, “He (Yaakov) took away my birthright and see, now he took away my blessing!” He adds, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me? Yitzchak answered, and said to Esav, “Behold, a lord have I made him over you, and all his kin have I
