Covenant and Conversation Family Edition, Toldot, In a Nutshell
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IN A NUTSHELL Parashat Toledot tells the story of Yitzḥak and Rivka’s twin sons, Yaakov and Esav, who fought with each other even before they were born! Rivka had been told that although Esav would be born first, Yaakov would be the one to continue the Jewish people. But Yaakov wasn’t sure of this and one day he convinced Esav to sell him the special blessing he was due as the firstborn son. Rivka then helped her son Yaakov to dress in Esav’s clothes and pretend to be his brother, tricking his almost-blind father Yitzḥak into giving him Esav’s firstborn blessing.
When Esav found out, he screamed a bitter cry, and even though Yitzḥak tried to make him feel better by giving him a blessing just for him, Esav’s anger remained. Rivka was scared Esav might kill Yaakov in revenge, and so told Yaakov to run far away to Ḥaran, where he could stay with her brother Lavan.
QUESTION TO PONDER
Do you think Rivka and Yaakov were right to trick Yitzḥak?