Parshat Toldot

Our Sidra dramatically describes the contrasts between Isaac’s two sons, Yaacov and Esav whose tussle began even while they were in their mother’s womb. Esav is described as ‘a hunting man, a man of the field’, while Yaacov is portrayed as ‘an honest man who dwells in tents’ (Bereishit 25:27). Esav appears to be the entrepreneurial man of the world while Yaacov seems to prefer the ivory tower of academia (tents being a euphemism for academia).

However, do these values always compete? The renowned Jerusalem scholar Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, notes when comparing the meals which Esav and Yaacov separately prepare for Isaac (see chapter 27), only Yaacov serves wine. Esav’s omission is surprising given his depiction as a man of the world. Isaac appears to pick up on this. In his blessing to Yaacov, he mentions ‘tirosh’, wine. There is no such mention in the blessing to Esav.

A careful analysis of Yaacov’s meal and his conversation with his father yields many subliminal messages about there being more to Yaacov than just a bookish student. Rabbi Elyashiv sees one of these messages in Yaacov’s bringing of the wine and in the nature of wine in general.

The Talmud requires wine for Kidush, Havdala and meals which celebrate a mitzvah, such as at a wedding. A Nazir, who takes a vow to abstain from wine, even needs to atone for forsaking a permitted pleasure (see Bemidbar chapter 6).

Conversely, everybody knows of the dangers of wine. The Talmud states, for example, that ‘when wine enters, secrets come out’ (Eruvin 65a).

Rabbi Elyashiv concludes that Yaacov brought wine to show his father that he appreciated the finer qualities of wine rather than its baser qualities. He brought wine to gladden his father. Esav, contrastingly, only saw the baser side of wine and as such was embarrassed to bring wine as he thought it would reflect unfavourably on him if he would do so.

Have a careful read of chapter 27 and consider the characters of Yaacov and Esav, with particular regard to the subtleties underlying their descriptions. This may give some clues as to how the Oral Tradition has portrayed them at this stage in their lives