“When the boys grew up, Eisav became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; Yaakov became a simple man, a tent dweller.” (Bereishit 25:27)
We learn of the differing traits and life choices of Yaakov and Eisav. As Rashi reveals, this description is intentionally preceded by the context of, “When the boys grew up”.
Surely they were always predisposed to becoming such people? Surely their traits and destinies were defined even from the womb and apparent already as children? Was Eisav not always destined to be the evil nemesis?
Apparently not.
Rashi explains, “So long as they were young, they could not be distinguished by what they did and no one paid much attention to their characters. However, when they reached the age of thirteen, one went his way to the houses of learning and the other went his way to the temples of idolatry.”
Rav Hirsch criticizes the parents.“The striking contrast in the grandchildren of Abraham may have been due not so much to a difference in their temperaments as to a mistake in the way they were brought up. No attention was paid to their differences while they were little… Had Yitzchak and Rivkah studied the nature of Eisav and spoken to that nature, who can say how different the history of the ages may have been recorded.”
“Educate the child according to his way…” (Mishlei 22:6)
Education matters. Eisav’s physical prowess and cunning wit could have seen him lead the Jewish people physically, with might and valour. However, he is not given the tools to envision his place in Jewish Destiny - blind to what his contribution to Avraham’s legacy could have been. His powers go to waste and bring only generations of pain.
Yaakov internalizes the lesson and raises his 12 sons differently - blessing each one uniquely - revealing the way their distinct traits can and must contribute to Jewish Destiny.
“The great Jewish task in life is basically simple, one and the same for all, but its realisation is as complicated and varied as human natures and tendencies are varied.” (Hirsch)
Our friends, colleagues, sons and daughters are serving heroically on the front lines. The efforts of the homefront are astounding too. We cannot but marvel at the superpowers that our ‘ordinary people’ reveal in times of strife - our unbeatable, ‘People’s Army’. From young, we educate our children to envision their roles in the Jewish Destiny of bringing light to the world - be it from the field, in the tent, in the office, in the air or from behind a screen.
“The IDF is not an army like any other. A pillar of Israel - of its security, but also of its national identity - this ‘people’s army’...” (Geopolitical Futures, Aug ‘23)
Yaakov rises up to take on the mantle originally intended for Eisav and, with that, becomes, ‘Yisrael’ - we are all able to do it all. The regular man on the street - the ‘tent-dweller’ - rises up to serve as an elite servant of Hashem and an inspiring descendant of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah.
May our heroes be protected completely and merit a return to normal life soon - hopefully putting away their olive-green capes for a very long time. Am Yisrael Chai.
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