Category — Toldos

The President of the congregation went to visit the Rabbi in the hospital, after the latter had suffered a mild heart-attack.

He said, “Rabbi, the board just voted 12 to 8 to wish you a speedy recovery!”

***

Big bad Og was having a good time teasing the crowd.

Isaac, the miraculous baby born to his parents in their old age after years of infertility, was growing up, and his father decided to throw a party. From far and wide, people came to witness the miracle and pay their respects to a most prestigious leader.

Amongst the guests sat Og, a mighty giant and powerful king – and a vicious anti-Semite who was jealous of all the honor bestowed upon Abraham.

“Ha!” he turned to the crowd and roared, “What are all of you gushing about? If I wish, I can smother this kid with my finger; he’s a nothing!”

At that moment, On High, G-d laughed and declared: “We’ll see who smothers whom! In a few years, you will fall in the hands of the descendants of this frail child.”

And so it was. Hundreds of years later, as the Jews crossed the desert towards the Holy Land, the mighty giant fell into the hands of Moses, grandchild of Isaac.

This tale of old is the story of our history.

“Ha!” cried Pharaoh.

“Ha!” screamed Nebuchadnezzar as he tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

“Ha!” declared Titus, as he put an idol in the Holy Temple .

“Ha!” announced Torquemada, as yet another Morrano was burnt at the auto-de-fe.

“Ha!” bellowed Stalin, as another Shul was closed, another Rabbi sent to the firing squad.

“Ha!” yelled Hitler.

“Ha!” jeers Ahmadinejad.

“Ha!” called the enemies of Israel for thousands of years.

“Ha!” cries secularism, “you devotees don’t stand a chance in a sophisticated materialistic society!”

All along, we have heard the laughs, as the gas was poured into the gas chambers, and as another bus blew up.

But in the Heavens a greater laugh is heard, its echo reverberating throughout the darkness – for only G-d can know and see the truth and future. Ha! Whose name is remembered only through the textbooks, and who has managed to survive all the ‘Ha’s, and live on forever? WHO? WHO? WHO?

And here on earth laughs the Jew, as he devotedly keeps the tradition alive, never swayed by the jeers and teases. Ha! Just look how society crumbles without religion and morals.

Am Yisroel Chai! HA!

A Jewish grandmother is babysitting her grandson at the beach. He has his pail and shovel and is digging in the sand on the ocean’s edge like any child would. All of a sudden a gigantic wave barrels in from the ocean, scoops up the child, his pail and shovels and sweeps them out to sea.
The horrified grandmother shrieks in horror and starts pleading with God: “Please, please my grandson, save him! You’re a merciful God, and he is only a child.” Finally a gigantic wave comes in from the ocean and deposits the little boy with his pail and shovel exactly where he was before. The grandmother looks him over with great relief and then she yells at God: “Where is his hat? He was wearing a hat!!”
***
Twenty years had past since their marriage, and they were still childless. Isaac (57) and Rebecca (23) had prayed and begged to be blessed with children, and, after much tears and sorrow, G-d heard their prayers, and Rebecca finally conceived.
One day, as the proud mother-to-be was taking a walk, the strangest thing happened: as she walked past the local synagogue, she felt the baby kick and twist as if he were begging to be released.
She resumed her walk and soon passed by a house of idol worship. Once again, the baby started dancing and kicking.
Totally confused, she paid a visit to the local sage, requesting an explanation for the strange phenomenon (was her baby schizophrenic?).
“Don’t worry,” she was told. Growing within you are not one, but two children – two nations with different interests and personalities. They will forever struggle, yet, in the end, the firstborn will serve his younger brother.”
*
The above is the story of the birth of Esau the big brother and Jacob the younger one. If we study it in Talmudic fashion, it seems a strange tale indeed, for how can it be said that while still tied with the biblical cord to its mother, a fetus could already be inclined to evil? And, on the other hand, if already at conception one’s future is determined, how can one be liable and punished for his misdoings and sins? It’s not his fault!
*
In nature and personality, human beings can generally be divided into two categories. One is the spiritual inclined, serious and academic personality – the rosy-cheeked, precocious child. The second, more common one is the down-to-earth “enjoy life” type, one who is naturally inclined towards animalistic enjoyment and pleasure.
Each one is unique and necessary, yet, if one thinks about it, there is something special about the “struggling” guy:
Had G-d desired only “perfect” people, He should have created a world of angels, a universe of goodie-goodies. But He didn’t, for G-d desires struggle. He loves the constant battle of good and evil, the struggle with good days and bad ones, the smile and the tears, the constant climbing (and falling) that characterizes one who tries to live a productive life.
I’m sure you’ve experienced situations in which a loved one was debating a decision, and you decided to mix out, letting him or her work it out alone. You were testing his conviction and self-motivation, challenging his courage and maturity, and looking to see if he would stand up for that which was right.
How proud you were when your loved one proved worthy of your trust! And probably, even if he or she disappointed your expectations, you nevertheless did not regret the independence you gave that individual. “Maybe next time,” you thought.
So that is the story of Jacob and Esau, the tale of the studious fellow and the trouble maker. How unfortunate that Esau did not utilize his nature to struggle with evil and overcome it; instead, he decided to give in to his animalistic side. What a shame, for had Esau taken the bull by the horns, he would have reached higher than his brother Jacob.
For, as we know, struggle makes man!