In the Bais Hamikdash, the first Avoda they did every morning was: Terumas HaDeshen (“lifting” the ashes) — literally uplifting the ashes of yesterday’s Avoda. When the smallest and dirtiest Avoda that you did (like ashes) is important to you, then you are fit to start a full day’s Avoda in the Bais Hamikdash. This is the extreme opposite of Eisav, upon whom it says: וַיִבֶז עֵשָו אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה — he despised and looked down at the Bechora. If the highest Inyanim in the world are unimportant, and מְזוּלְזָל (cheap), then so is everything else.
He (Eisav) can say what he wants and do whatever he wishes. Nothing really matters. He’s an: אִיש שָדֶה man of the field, i.e., a “free-for-all” open and empty field. He is wild and untamed, with no rules in his life. No Torah and no Derech Eretz. You can even kill or be killed. The worst pain and tragedies of the world, like wars (Hefker-Velt), all come from the Eisav-types, who: עַל חַרְבְּךָ תִחְיֶה “live” by-the-sword.
Keep destroying yourself and others. Who cares? What’s the difference? No accountability. Do zero and become zero. Whereas Yaakov respects even a low: דוֹמֵם lifeless stone, which can become elevated into a Mizbeach and reach the highest Madregos. The world belongs to Yaakov; and he cares for it and holds it up, like Hashem Himself. He is full of love and giving. To total strangers, he says: אַחַי מֵאַיִן אַתֶם — My “brothers”, from where do you come? Everyone is his brother, and his beloved friend.
Out of his great love for them, he’s worried that they should do their job properly, so he tells them: הֵן עוֹד הַיוֹם גָדוֹל “It is still early on in the day”, and with superhuman Koach he easily removes the giant stone off the Be’er (well), and single-handedly gives all the sheep to drink. He is the extreme opposite of Eisav: When he learns for 14 years, he never sleeps! And when he works for Lavan, he is non-stop in his devotion, despite: וְקֶרַח בַלַיְלָה — unbearable weather conditions. (PS. We can suggest that since the Rambam says that when working on Middos you go to the opposite extreme, having a brother like Eisav who was total: בַטָלָה idleness, a person has to go to extreme Hasmada. And being in dishonest Aram, a place known for swindlers, Yaakov went Davka the extreme opposite to be Moser Nefesh for honesty).
His respect for a job and his total Ehrlich’keit is incomprehensible. תִתֵן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב — Yaakov is the personification of truth.
Lesson #1 from these holy Parshiyos:
Love people! They are all Tzelem Elokim! They are all holy and precious! Learn how to love and be in awe and respect all those humans we see in the street, instead of viewing them like just another “number”, or Chas V'shalom being apathetic, or even hating or being critical of them!
