A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Toldos
A Total Education

The beginning of Parshas Toldos reintroduces us to the birth of Yitzchak Avinu as it begins to detail his legacy as a second of our avos. The Parsha begins v’eileh toldos Yitzchok ben Avraham, Avraham holid es Yitzchok. The commentaries wonder what the second half of this pasuk is teaching us since the verse already explained that Avraham was Yitzchok’s father. Rashi quotes the chazal which tells us that Avraham holid es Yitzchok is placed in the verse to teach us that Yitzchok looked exactly like his father and anyone who saw him knew that Avraham holid es Yitzchok, only Avraham can be his father (and not Avimelech, as the cynics of the generation had posited).

The Ibn Ezra takes a different approach. He explains the declaration that Avraham holid es Yizchok is referring to Yitzchok’s chinuch. Having fathered Yishmael, Avraham Avinu knew full well what it was like to have a child at risk. This time he took no chances. Not only did Avraham father Yitzchok but he also reared him to follow his teachings!

In the nature versus nurture debate Avraham had discovered that both our needed. He thus faithfully transmitted all his values and priorities to Yitzchok his son. In every way Yitzchok was the physical and spiritual heir to Avraham Avinu. Similarly we are taught kol milamid ben chaveiro kielu yaldo. From the moment he was born, education, Yitzchok’s chinuch was Avraham Avinu’s full time preoccupation. He put all his kochos leholid Yitzchok, to guide, inspire and direct him on the path of greatness. And, with siata dishmaya he was blessed with success.

If we reflect back on nuances of the previous parsha leading up to and following Yitzchok’s birth we can mine some vital gems of chinuch priorities we can apply today. The Meforshim wonder what is the linkage between the destruction of Sedom and the besurah tova to Avraham and Sara that they will be blessed with a son? The three malachim traveled together, obviously there was a connection to their individual missions. Some explain first and foremost that Sedom had to be destroyed before Yitzchok could be born. There would be no way to rear a Yitzchok to the status of a korban olah with a Sedom in the environs. Thus when the malachim told Sara she would have a son they immediately set out to destroy that which could corrupt and derail all that Yitzchok could grow to be.

Avraham and Sarah understood this message and when the time came they exiled Yishmael from their home. A painful choice that with Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s blessing cleared the environment for Yitzchok to thrive. Even with his new beloved son growing up before his eyes, Avraham stuck to his own mission of outreach in kiruv. Vayeeta eishal b’Vear Sheva, and guest filled his home connecting to Hakadosh Baruch Hu (eishal was the acromyn for achila, shtiya velina). In this manner Yitzchok learned his achrayus to the klal and the need to spread the reality of Hashem Yisborach to a lost and pagan world.

Finally, after the akaida (22:19) Ibn Ezra wonders why the pasuk says vayashav Avraham el niarav, it seems that Avraham alone returned. Where was Yitzchok? The Ibn Ezra explains that following the akaida, the climactic moment of gelui shchina and mesiras nefesh when he was almost shechted, Yitzchok reached a tremendous madraiga. Avraham wanted to capitalize on the energy of the moment and therefore sent him to learn in the Yeshiva of Shem V’ever so that he could build on his inspiration and through limud haTorah to soar to even greater heights that would remain with him long after the inspiration had waned. Avraham holid es Yitzchok. He directed every aspect of his total development, b’gashmius, b’ruchniyus, b’middos, b’mitzvos, b’yiras shamayim ub’limud haTorah.

This message should never be lost upon us. Chinuch must be the full time preoccupation especially in our challenging environment where the elimination of the Sedom’s of our world are simply impossible. As such, we must be even more careful in providing balance between removing corrupting influences from our home (Yishmael) and providing healthy opportunities to see others not committed to our values but who we confidently bring under our sphere of influence without the fear that we will be corrupted by them. As careful as Avraham was with the chinuch of Yitzchok, he did not put his head in the sand nor completely isolate him from the world at large. Finally, we must show our children that Talmud Torah is kineged kulam. It is not enough to be inspired but we must live inspired. Therefore at the moments of great spiritual peeks we must look towards our learning to be the glue that enables us to hold onto that moment and maximize its impact each and every day.

Like Avraham we cannot have a hesech hadaas from the chinuch of our children. We can learn from him. Iy”H as our children grow it will be said of each of us that we were holid each of our offspring.

Related posts:

1. God is With You | A Guest Post
2. Ever Thankful | A Guest Post
3. Defining Greatness | A Guest Post
4. Building a City | A Guest Post
5. Abraham As A Role Model For Making Choices | A Guest Post

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Toldos

The Gift of Golus

One cannot help but be fascinated with the entire episode of Yitzchok Avinu and the brachos intended for Eisav which are surreptitiously taken by Yaakov Avinu. Chazal darshan every nuance of the parsha for yesodos so vital for us today. Chazal wonder (as do we), what was it that Yitzchok Avinu actually intended? What was Rivka’s viewpoint? And what is the lasting lesson?

There are many interesting approaches and lessons to be learnt. One insight is derived from an enigmatic Midrash Rabbah which scrutinizes the original instructions given to Eisav. Yitzchok Avinu asks his eldest son, “Sah na keilecha telyicha vkashtecha vtzei hasadeh vtzudah li tzayid – Lift up your gear, your bow and arrow and go out to the field to hunt your prey.” Why is the method of the hunt so important to Yitzchok? Why didn’t Yitzchok Avinu simply request Eisav to bring him dinner? After all, Eisav is the expert hunter.

Chazal explain that a powerful message was being alluded to in Yitzchok’s request of Eisav. We are taught that the eve of this all important Bracha ceremony was leil Pesach and the directives of the posuk symbolically represent the four galuyos. Bavel, Madai, Yavan and Edom. Yitzchok Avinu knew good and well just what Eisav was all about. He wanted to help him. He intended to give him the tools to achieve a complete and total teshuva, the opportunity for spiritual redemption. Similarly, the four goluyos are intended to provide a forced and focused tikun to enable Klal Yisrael to reconnect to the Aibeshter after they err.

We can almost hear Yitzchok Avinu speaking to Eisav with all of his passion, as he implores him. Eisav you have sinned, but you can grow from your mistakes. You can trek from golus to geula if you but seek it as your objective. Stalk the prey of Torah, Tefilla (lasuach basadeh) and teshuva and you can connect to the Ribbon Shel Olam like your brother, Yaakov, the ish tam yoshev ohalim. Sah na keilecha, lift up, elevate and spiritualize your kochos hanfesh, for you have talents that are gifted to you alone. You, too, can be successful and inspire others to do the same. Eisav, this time, as you hunt, leave your special hunting jacket at home. Do not take the easy way out. Go forth through the golus, seek and pursue the emes, you will be rewarded with geula. It is Pesach eve. Is there a moment more ripe for redemption? My dear Eisav, remember, Hashem helps everyone who desires to escape Mitzrayim and their own “mietzarim,” the limitations that bind them to an olam hazehdikeh life. Go forth Eisav, and bring me matamim, the delicacies of a holy lifestyle, of gashmiyus infused and transformed to ruchniyus, ba’avur tivrechacha nafshi biterem amus so that I may bless you before it too late. Then I can proclaim and you will be worthy of v’iyitein Licha Elokim – Hashem should bless you with all of His, brachos in both Olam Hazeh and Olam Habah!

Rivka Imeinu overhears Yitzchok’s impassioned plea. She realizes that Yaakov, too, desperately needs such a bracha. Not for himself but for us. Sadly, she knows that there will be times when Klal Yisrael will r”l stray. They would need the gift of golus and geula, the power of teshuva to brighten their future. Without it all would be lost. With it, Klal Yisrael would be blessed for eternity.
Rivka readies Yaakov for his masquerade. Dressed up as Eisav, Yaakov quickly arrives with the delicacies prepared by his mother. Yitzchok grows suspicious almost immediately and says mah zeh miharta limtzo b’ni – Eisav my son, how did you accomplish your avodah so quickly?! Is teshuva so easy to achieve? His concern was rapidly allayed as Yaakov responds Ki hikrah Hashem Elokecha – I was gifted Siyata Dishmaya, Hashem Yisborach heard my cry. Indeed we know – pischu li pesach kichudo shel machat vani eftach lach pesach kipischo shel ulom! Yitzchok was satisfied. Indeed, the young man him before was accompanied by the aroma of Gan Eden. The gift of Teshuva, of growth through golus and geula, was now ready to be bestowed upon his son who needed it the most. But thanks to Rivka, it was not Eisav. Instead, it was Yaakov Avinu who in turn gifted to us that precious legacy so that we should be worthy of His blessings.

Yehi Ratzon that we be zocheh to grow from this long golus to the euphoria and clarity of geula. Let us vanquish Eisav and this golus through the koach Hateshuva. V’alu moshi’im b’har Tzion lishpot es har Eisav v’haysa Hashem hamlucha. bimahra biyameinu Amen.

Related posts:

1. Hook, Line and Teshuva | A Guest Post
2. Do You Want To Change? | A Guest Post
3. Meriting Salvation | A Guest Post
4. A Support Staff | A Guest Post
5. Just Visiting | A Guest Post

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Yaakov, Eisav & The Simple Things in Life

This week’s parsha presents the fundamental distinction between Klal Yisrael and the Umos HaOlam, defined by Yaakov Avinu and Eisav Harasha. Exploring these differences can help us understand what defines us and which values to seek and transmit to our children. One insight is especially relevant to the contemporary milieu.

Yaakov buys the Bichorah, the birthright, from Eisav for a bowl of soup. Upon receipt of such we are told—Vayochal, Vayeisht, Vayakom, Vayeilach, Vayivez: he ate, drank, got up, left and mocked. The mifarshim derive powerful messages from his behavior. The Kli Yakar notes that this phrase is the makor for the medrash that says Eisav committed 5 serious Aveiros on that day replete with heretical, immoral and antisocial behavior.

On a simpler level, however, one can come to understand from this phrase the superficiality of an Eisav which is mirrored by American life today. Eisav was constantly on the run: fast food, quick drink and a “get up and go”, instant, disposable lifestyle was all he made time for. There was no desire or effort to stop and smell the roses and appreciate what was truly his. Relationships were temporary and insights superficial. Even the gift of life grew tired. As a result he did not thoroughly deliberate his mission in life or his connection to Hashem. He became cynical and scorned the Bechora, his spiritual birthright. Torah and Mitzvos became a burden to be unloaded rather than a joy to be celebrated.

Unfortunately, these attitudes can creep into the contemporary Torah home. We expect instant gratification and wish for automatic success–effortlessly and with instant messaging! We get wrapped up in the here and now and anticipate immediate results with our children’s education, shalom Bayis and professional ambitions. Klal Yisrael should know better. When it comes to growing in Torah, Mitzvos, and personal development, the Gemarah tells us, “Yagatah Umatzasa Ta’amin”, if one labors and achieves, that is believable.

Yaakov Avinu personifies such growth. He was an “Ish Tam Yoshev Ohalim-a pure man who sat in the tent”, constantly pondering, deliberating and striving to serve Hashem with his entire being and as a result he achieved. It is this model that fuels the formation of the quintessential Jewish family, the 12 shevatim. His success yielded true lasting Simcha, the joy of accomplishment. That is the true Simchas Hachayim that we should all strive for and 
IY”H receive.

Related posts:

1. The Sweet Smell of Simcha | A Guest Post
2. A Support Staff | A Guest Post
3. Hook, Line and Teshuva | A Guest Post
4. To Prey Or To Pray | A Guest Post
5. A Good Time | A Guest Post