Great Is the Lamb that Stands Amidst Seventy Wolves
Great Is the Shepherd Who Rescues Them and Destroys Their Foes
From this week’s parsha, parshas Toldos, we can draw strength and support to help us through the current, trying situation that is unfolding in Eretz Yisrael and throughout the world. Our fellow Jews in Eretz Yisrael are surrounded on all sides by our enemies, the evil descendants of Yishmael, the son of the maidservant. They take every opportunity to brutally attack Jews, killing men women and children—may Hashem avenge their blood—both in Eretz Yisrael and in the diaspora. The incredible hatred that has surfaced from the hearts of the descendants of Eisav is beyond belief and comprehension. They consider themselves justified and upright and cannot refrain from expressing their hatred for Yisrael and their encouragement and support of Yishmael.
Seeing this deep-seated hatred gushing forth from the hearts of the nations of the world toward the people of Yisrael, should cause us to reflect on the dialogue that ensued between the Roman Emperor Hadrian and the holy Tanna, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananyah. The Emperor was aware that the extreme hatred of the nations of the world for Yisrael had existed for thousands of years. As such, he could not help but express his amazement that despite being persecuted and being subjected to pogroms, this fragile, solitary lamb had managed to survive despite being surrounded by seventy vicious, bloodthirsty wolves. Here is an excerpt from the Midrash Tanchuma (Toldos 5):
Hadrian (the Roman Emperor) said to Rabbi Yehoshua: “Great is the sheep that can survive among seventy wolves.” And he replied: “Even greater is the shepherd who rescues and destroys the wolves surrounding her.” Therefore, it is written (Yeshayah 54, 17): “Any weapon formed against you will not succeed.”
As we will demonstrate, this union between the people of Eisav and the people of Yishmael began as far back as the initial conflict between Yaakov Avinu—the father and first of the holy lineage of Yisrael—and his wicked brother Eisav—the first of the bitter root of the evil enemies of Yisrael throughout the generations. In fact, this historic, age-old struggle began while they were still in their mother’s womb, as described at the beginning of this week’s parsha (Bereishis 25, 22): "ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה"—the boys wreaked havoc within her.
Rashi comments: When she would pass by doorways of places of Torah-study of Shem and Eiver, Yaakov would run and kick, trying to exit (the womb); when she would pass by doorways of places of idol-worship, Eisav would kick, trying to exit.
