The Weekly Sedra – Toldot

This week’s section introduces us to the struggle between the holy patriarch Yaakov and his evil twin brother Esav.

This eventually would become the eternal conflict between the Jews and gentiles (i.e. the Church, the athiests etc.) that will be resolved only by the Moshiach himself.

But interestingly, the works of Chassidut and Kabala explain that the way that Moshiach will settle it is by revealing the fact that, in his essence, Esav is really holier that Yaakov!

This is already hinted at by the fact that Yitzchak wanted to bless Esav more than he did Yaakov and that Esav desperately wanted that blessing – they both sensed this holiness.

To understand this here are two stories I heard about the fifth Rebbe of Chabad Rebbe Shalom Dovber, called the Rebbe ReShab for short whose birthday was last week (20th of Cheshvan)

Rabbi Yaakov Landa was a follower (Chassid) of the Rebbe ReShab but not the usual type of Chassid. The Rebbe took an unusual liking to him and even made him the ‘House Rabbi’. Any questions that arouse in the household of the Rebbe; if a chicken is kosher, if something is permissible on Shabbat etc. would be directed to Rabbi Landa. And, needless to say, the devotion of Rabbi Landa to the Rebbe was boundless.

In addition to being a great Scholar, Rabbi Landa was a very knowledgeable man in mundane things as well and was an expert at home remedies.

(For instance I once was at a wedding when the groom suddenly began suffering from an uncontrollable nosebleed. One of Rabbi Landa’s sons (Rabbi Moshe who is now chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak) rushed to him, said he had a trick he learned from his father, found a piece of string, tied it very tightly around the base of the fellow’s little finger and after a few seconds amazingly the bleeding completely stopped!! Since then I have used this tens of times to help people with nosebleed and it works every time!)

When the very contagious and deadly disease of Typhus broke out in Russia near the turn of the century Rav Landa had ample opportunity to use his skills. The regular doctors, besides having virtually no treatment for Typhus, were also understandably very reluctant to come in contact with the sick while Rav Landa both did have remedies and did not fear for himself when it came to saving others.

He succeeded in healing hundreds but it was almost inevitable that he eventually contracted the disease himself.

In a matter of days he lost consciousness and his life was hanging in the balance for several weeks until the crisis finally passed and he came to.

The only problem was that when he was sick and unconscious the Rebbe Reshab passed away unbeknownst to him.

Every day Rav Landa was taken from his room outside into the sun to get stronger until after several more weeks he was back to his old self. Of course all the time he was recovering he asked everyone that passed by about the Rebbe’s health but the Chassidim agreed among themselves not mention a word to him about the Rebbe’s passing. The answer was always the same ‘the Rebbe is fine’.

But Rabbi Landa sensed that something was wrong and kept asking until somehow he got the one person that didn’t know about this agreement and he heard the bitter truth.

A normal person can understand what a terrible blow this must have been to him; A Rebbe is more than just a leader or even a father, the Rebbe virtually reveals the soul and true essence of the Chassid.

And the relation between Rav Landa and the Rebbe Reshab was even deeper and more personal than that; Rav Landa had been near the Rebbe day and night and his life was virtually tied up with his.

That night Rabbi Landa wrote a short letter to the Rebbe. He folded the letter up, put it in an envelope and the next morning when he was taken outside he waited for the same man to pass, handed him the letter and requested that he put it on the Rebbe’s grave and tell no one about it.

In the letter he wrote that he wanted the Rebbe to take him away from this world. He wanted to be with the Rebbe because he felt that life was worth nothing without him.

Two days later the Rebbe’s son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (who became the Rebbe in his father’s stead) came to visit Rabbi Landa. He pulled up a chair, sat next to his bed where he was laying in the sunlight and said, “I just was by my father’s grave and he gave me a message to give over to you,”

Rav Landa ushered up all his strength, propped himself up on the bed and prepared himself for the Rebbe’s message from ‘beyond’. When the Rebbe’s son saw Rav Landa was ready he continued.

“My father said: “Stop making stupid requests!'”

The second story occurred several years afterwards.

Rabbi Landa had an offer from some very solid and trustworthy businessmen to join them in an investment outside of Russia that was almost sure to bring in big profits. These businessmen, besides being his friends, admired his deep mind and ability to think straght and felt he would be an asset to their endeavor. He would not have to leave the country, rather he would give advice and invest a portion of the money.

It was very tempting. Rabbi Landa had a good business sense and this seemed a sure thing but he could not make such a decision without consulting the Rebbe.

Here was a problem. He was still tied heart and soul to the Rebbe Reshab and the Rebbe Reshab had left this world years earlier. So he decided to consult the Rebbe’s son and replacement (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, nicknamed the Raayatz) before he said yes.

He set an appointment with the Raayatz and when the time came entered with awe and trepidation to ask his question.

As he entered he noticed a large tractate of the Talmud on the table between them with one page folded over.

He asked his question and the Rebbe Raayatz pointed to the Talmud and said, “Open it up please.”

Rabbi Landa did as he was told; he opened the book to the folded page and immediately caught his eye a line that said “It is better to invest money near one’s home than far away.”

“This is pure prophesy!” He thought to himself, “He knew what my question would be and how to answer it through this page of the Talmud!”

“Not at all” answered the Rebbe Raayatz aloud. “It wasn’t my prophesy. You see, just before you entered, my father (the Rebbe Reshab who had passed away years earlier) was here and told me to fold over this page of the Talmud and show it to you. It was he that gave the advice!”

Both of these stories show the importance of this physical world. And that is the implication of Esav.

Generally speaking Esav represents this world; the entire creation spiritual as well as physical. The very name Esav, means ‘completely made’; as the creation seems complete and independent of a Creator.

But Yaakov represents the Creator. ‘Yaakov’ is an anagram of “Yud Akav” namely revealing ‘Yud’; the first and highest letter of G-d’s name even in the ‘Akav’; the heels of creation.

That is why the non-Jews; atheists and religious as well, have opposed Judaism for thousands of years. Because they are interested only in the creation and self-aggrandizement while the Jews, like Yaakov live for the Creator and His aggrandizement…. and the two seem to be opposites.

But Moshiach will reveal that Esav really has a higher source; that this world and the unique job that each of us has in it is really of foremost importance.

As the Rebbe Reshab revealed to Rabbi Landa first telling him that it is better to be yourself in this physical world than negated to G-d anywhere else.. and then, in the second story, ‘leaving’ the ‘upper worlds’ to give advice down here in the world of Esav.

This is because G-d wants us to reveal the true purpose in the CREATION.

It is here that He put man and gave the Torah. It will be here that Moshiach will gather the Jews, build the Temple, make heaven on earth through the seven Noahide commandments and finally even raise the dead.

Then we will clearly see that the physical creation is ‘closer’ to the creator than the highest of spiritual worlds.

That is why Yitzchak wanted to bless Esav; he wanted all this to happen thousands of years ago. But it was impossible.

The bringing of Moshiach and revelation of the essence of Esav depends on US, NOW. After all this time the responsiblity rests on our shoulders to do all we can to bring….

Moshiach NOW!!