בּ"ה
Parshas Toldos
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‘And these are the generations of Yitzchok, son of Avraham, Avraham begot (הוליד) Yitzchok.’ (Bereishis 25:19)
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Explains the Baal HaTurim zt”l that the word ‘הוליד -- begot’ has the same Gematria (numerical value) as the word ‘דומה -- similar’. This teaches us that Hashem made Yitzchok Avinu and Avraham Avinu look very alike.*
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* See Rashi zt”l on this verse, to the words אברהם הוליד את יצחק.
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‘And Yitzchok prayed to Hashem opposite his wife, because she was barren. . . and Rivkah his [Yitzchok’s] wife conceived.’ (Bereishis 25:21)
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We see that when Rivkah Imeinu was barren, what did Yitzchok Avinu (and Rivkah herself, as well*) do? They Davened to Hashem. And He heard their prayers and answered them, even when things seemed bleak.
We too must turn to Hashem with our own prayers whenever we are in need, etc. for He is there, ready to answer them.
(Tal U’Matar)
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* See Rashi zt”l on this verse, to the words לנכח אשתו.
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‘And the children struggled inside of her -- ויתרצצוּ הבּנים בּקרבּהּ’ (Bereishis 25:23)
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Rashi zt”l quotes a Midrashic interpretation (Bereishis Rabbah) which says that the word ויתרצצוּ can also come from the word to run, רץ. This teaches us that whenever Rivkah Imeinu would pass by a Beis Midrash, a House of Study, Yaakov Avinu would try to run to go there, and whenever she would pass by a house of idol worship, Esav would try to run to go there.
But there is a big question that some ask; if we are taught (Gemara Niddah 30) that a Malach (Angel) teaches a baby the entire Torah inside the womb, why was Yaakov Avinu trying to leave to go to a Beis Midrash? He was learning the entire Torah with a Malach!
There are different answers given, and they are all beautiful. One of them that I have seen in the name of various Rabbonim is that, true, Yaakov Avinu was learning with a Malach -- but he was in the company of Esav. It is important to have proper surroundings.
However, there is another question, and that is the one posed by my dear brother, Yaakov, may he be well: What about Esav? Why, indeed, was he trying to leave if he was being taught Torah by a Malach?! How could he have been?
And Baruch Hashem, we came to an answer and lesson from it: Learning Torah is a great and amazing thing and should be done very much, but it doesn’t automatically make us a Tzaddik if we are, Chas V’Shalom, not going to put it into practice. Learning in and of itself is a huge Mitzvah and an awesome thing, but with it, we must work on ourselves and try to perfect our character, and fulfill the other Mitzvos, etc.
Indeed, Shimon HaTzaddik (Avos 1:2) says, “Upon three things does the world stand: Upon the Torah, and upon the Avodah (Service of Hashem), and upon Gemilus Chassadim (acts of kindness).”
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|~Maaseh~| Rabbi Akiva zt”l taught that a person should always accustom themselves to say ‘Everything the Merciful One does, He does for the good’.
And there is a story that goes with this teaching: Rabbi Akiva was once walking along a road and he came to a town. He inquired about a place to stay, but he wasn’t given any. It might have seemed like something unpleasant, but he said and accepted ‘Everything the Merciful One does is for the good’, and he went to go stay overnight in a field. He had with him a chicken in order to wake him up, a donkey and a candle (or lamp).
However, a wind came and extinguished the candle, a cat came and ate the chicken, and a lion came and ate his donkey. Certainly a seemingly hopeless situation! But, Rabbi Akiva yet again stood strong and said ‘Everything the Merciful One does is for the good’.
It turned out that on that night, an army came and took the town he had originally intended to stay in, captive. “Did I not say to you,” said Rabbi Akiva [sometime later], “That everything HaKadosh Baruch Hu does, everything, is for the best?” Now, if his candle would have been lit, the army would have seen him, and if his donkey would have brayed, or his chicken would have called out, the army would have heard and come and taken him captive. Indeed, everything that occured, was surely for the best!
(Gemara Berachos 60b-61a, with commentary by Rashi zt”l)
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Gut and meaningful Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh to all!
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