Parashat Toledot (Genesis 25:19-28:9)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

We move now into Parashat Toledot (Genesis 25:19 - 28:9). One would think that in this parasha Isaac would take center stage; such is not to be the case. Rather, Rebekah and the boys, Esau and Ya'akov, dominate the action. Isaac is involved but he doesn't seem to be in control of his own story; now or ever. In chapter 27 we have the story of the blessing that seems to be intended for Esau but ends up being given to Ya'akov.

Isaac and Rebekah get married when he is 40 years old. They do not have children until he is 60. Have you ever heard any stories about what was happening with them during those twenty years? Write your own Midrash (explanation) for what they were doing.
Esau sells his birthright to Ya'akov for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29 - 33). What is a birthright? If Esau was really starving, why wouldn't his brother just give him some soup? Why did he make Esau pay such a high price? Why would Esau be willing to pay such a high price?
There is another famine in the land. God tells Isaac that he is not to go down to Egypt, unlike his dad did and his son will. Why does Isaac need to stay in his own land? Anyway, so he does stay in Israel and he ends up growing 100 times more wheat than the seeds he had planted. Why does God grant Isaac this miracle only after he agrees to stay in the land?
Isaac is a homebody, he doesn't seem to go too far or do too much. Why? Does this have anything to do with Akeydat Yitzchak (the binding of Isaac)? Isaac is the son of a big traveler and the father of a big traveler but he is not like that. Isn't that interesting? How would you explain the difference?
In Chapter 2, Rebekah and Ya'akov seem to steal the blessing that was intended for Esau. Why do they do this? What would things be like if Esau had managed to hang on to the birthright and the blessing? What kind of leader would Esau have been?