The Parsha |
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Toldos
Isaac plans to bless Esau, his firstborn son; he is unaware that Esau has sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob obtains the blessings by masquerading as Esau, fooling Isaac, who is blind. Jacob’s mother Rebecca orchestrates the subterfuge.
Text:
Rebecca took the precious garments of her elder son Esau – which were at home with her – and she dressed Jacob, her younger son, in them.
[Bereishis 27:16]
Why did she clothe Jacob with them? It would seem that she wanted to make him conform completely to the image of Esau.
[Da’as Zekeinim]
Question:
Isaac was blind! What difference would it make whether Jacob looked like Esau?
Answer:
Rebecca understood that for Jacob to play the part, he would need to feel like Esau. Wearing Esau’s clothes would enable him to “step into Esau’s skin” and carry out the plan successfully.
Message:
“Clothes make the man,” more than we realize. For Jacob to step into his role, it was important for him to dress the part. Jacob knew his twin brother intimately – and he knew that his entire future, and the future of his descendants, was at stake; but in the final analysis, his ability to achieve the right mindset could hinge on the clothes he was wearing.
Click below to open a printable pdf
Rebecca took the precious garments of her elder son Esau – which were at home with her – and she dressed Jacob, her younger son, in them.
[Bereishis 27:16]
Why did she clothe Jacob with them? It would seem that she wanted to make him conform completely to the image of Esau.
[Da’as Zekeinim]
Question:
Isaac was blind! What difference would it make whether Jacob looked like Esau?
Answer:
Rebecca understood that for Jacob to play the part, he would need to feel like Esau. Wearing Esau’s clothes would enable him to “step into Esau’s skin” and carry out the plan successfully.
Message:
“Clothes make the man,” more than we realize. For Jacob to step into his role, it was important for him to dress the part. Jacob knew his twin brother intimately – and he knew that his entire future, and the future of his descendants, was at stake; but in the final analysis, his ability to achieve the right mindset could hinge on the clothes he was wearing.
Click below to open a printable pdf
| toldos_snapshot_and_closer_look_template_final.pdf |