Internal View – Parshas Toldos 5771
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Loading ...- Unleashing the Power – Parshas Bereishis 5771
- Will The Real Noach Please Rise – Parshas Noach 5771
- Personal Emunah – Parshas Lech Lecha 5771
- Unique Characters – Parshas Vayeira 5771
- Succos All Year! – Parshas Chayei Sarah 5771
- Internal View – Parshas Toldos 5771
- Close Ties – Parshas Vayeitzei 5771
- Unnerving Dedication – Parshas Vayishlach 5771
- Effort and Wisdom – Parshas Vayeishev 5771
- Yosef HaTzaddik and Chanukah – Parshas Mikeitz and Chanukah 5771
- Tears of Joy – Parshas Vayigash 5771
- Yaakov and Yisrael – Parshas Vayechi 5771
- Gratitude and Exodus – Parshas Shemos 5771
- Raising to Greatness – Parshas Va’eira 5771
- Lasting Integrity – Parshas Bo 5771
- Dedicated Actions – Parshas Beshalach 5771
- Working Together – Parshas Yisro 5771
- Holy Laws – Parshas Mishpatim 5771
- A Meaningful Relationship – Parshas Terumah 5771
- Daily Reminders – Parshas Tetzaveh 5771
- Shabbos Kodesh – Parshas Ki Sisa 5771
- Team Effort – Parshas Vayakhel 5771
- Chazak Chazak V’NisChazaik! – Parshas Pekudei 5771
- Middos Development – Parshas Vayikra 5771
- Most Befitting – Parshas Tzav and Purim 5771
- Golden Silence – Parshas Shemini 5771
- Torah Guidance – Parshas Tazria 5771
- Peace and Respect – Parshas Metzora 5771
- The Birth of a Nation – Pesach 5771
- Love and Respect – Parshas Kedoshim 5771
- Preparation – Parshas Emor 5771
- Close to Hashem – Parshas Behar 5771
- The Value of Life – Parshas Bechukosai 5771
- Not Just A Statistic – Parshas Bamidbar 5771
- Proper Berachos – Parshas Nasso 5771
- How to Acquire Torah – Shavuos and Parshas Beha’aloscha 5771
- Positive Outlook – Parshas Shelach 5771
- Family Ties – Parshas Korach 5771
- Education 101 – Parshas Chukas 5771
- A Beautiful Safe Haven – Parshas Balak 5771
- Spiritual Sensitivity – Parshas Pinchas 5771
Imagine if one morning you asked a family member to pass you the Cheerios box and from now on your nickname became ‘Cheerios’. The verse (Bereishis 25:30) seems to say that this is precisely what happened to Eisav. He told Yaakov, “give me some of that red stuff (lentil soup) and thus his name became “Edom, red.” Why?!
The commentators explain that in this case, Eisav was expressing his mistaken world-view and not simply asking for the dish. Rashi explains that Avraham had passed away on that very day and Yaakov was preparing the traditional meal of round objects for the mourners. Deep and meaningful messages are expressed in the round lentils. Eisav was well aware of their significance and yet, in disdain, he mocked the entire theme and called the dish, “that red stuff.” This showed Eisav’s external focus.
Eisav sold his first born rite to Yaakov because Yaakov desired its holiness; he wanted to serve Hashem in the temple. Eisav only saw the external aspect of the service: “I don’t want something that can cause me to die.” Yitzchok so eloquently expressed the difference between his two sons. “The voice belongs to Yaakov and the hands are Eisav’s (Bereishis 27:22).” Yaakov is internal just as the voice (Torah and prayer as well); Eisav is external, just as the aggressive arms. This was the difference between spiritually and physicality.
I heard from Rabbi Noach Orlowek that he once posed the question, what is the difference between ‘fun’ and ‘happiness?’ A student answered him: “Fun is on the outside; happiness is on the inside.” Riding a roller-coaster is fun! Attending a wedding ceremony of a relative or friend or a meaningful event is happiness. The focus is on the spiritual meaning and quality of the experience.
Indeed, Eisav’s mistaken focus was what separated him from Yaakov and made him fail. Through Yaakov’s internal focus, he was able to achieve a feeling of “I have everything (Bereishis 33:11)! Eisav was never satisfied and could only describe his amassments as, “I have a lot (Bereishis 33:9),” but never enough. Yaakov teaches us how to approach this world and how to imbue our lives with value and meaning.
Categories: Parshas Toldos Internal/ Spiritual Focus, Pnimiyus
