Toldot 5762, Genesis 25:19-28:9
A quick thought: Jacob was a homeboy, and mommy's boy, his mommy cooked his goat (27:14). Esau was Dad's kid, a hunter, an outdoorsman; he cooked the venison he caught himself (27:31). Just goes to show you, real men cook.
Another quick thought: ESP is in the Bible. "And Esau said to himself.... And it was told to Rebecca the words of Esau her son" (27:41-41). Obviously, either Rebecca had telepathic friends or Esau thought really loudly. Since the latter is ridiculous, ESP must exist.
But seriously folks,
"25:19 This is the story of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean."
Shabbat Shalom-
This week's reading is called Toldot primarily because it's the second word in the reading. The name was also chosen because of the word's relation to the portion. The NJPS translation colloquially translates it as 'story' according to some of the medieval commentators. But the word itself is rooted in YLD/WLD, the root for children. How can a word meaning 'children' or 'offspring' come to mean 'story'?
In Ethics of the Fathers (2nd Century CE), the following exchange is found:
"He [Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai] said to them [his students]: 'Go out
and see which is the straight path to which a Man should cling'.... Rabbi Shimon
[ben Nethanel] says: 'He that sees the Nolad'" (Mishnah Avot 1:9) where 'nolad'
is from the same root YLD/WLD as Toldot.
A literalistic understanding of Rabbi Shimon's answer would be "He who sees a birth" whereas a more figurative understanding in Rabbinic Hebrew would be "He who sees the outcome of a thing". When I first came across these two translations of the quote, I was perplexed. Neither meaning seemed to answer the question. Perhaps witnessing a childbirth brings upon Man a knowledge of his insignificance and of the limits of his powers of creation (cf. Rabbi Shimon described as 'sin fearing', Avot 1:8). But can such a feeling last? On the other hand, if you always know what the outcome of your deeds are, in all their long-term ramifications, you would surely be more likely to do what is good for everyone. But, does knowing what is good lead to good deeds? Humility, no matter how short lived, would be a more fair judge! (viz. the answer of R' Elazar ben Arakh, a good heart is needed for one to choose correctly).
So, we return to the Hebrew root which embodies both of these ideas. Toldot can have both the meanings of 'outcome, happenings' or 'children'. What's the point, you might ask. The point is that both of these themes are dealt with in this reading. First, we have the toldot/stories, of Isaac's and Rebecca's offspring being born and going off on their own to have children. Secondly, we have the decisions made by Jacob and Esau, the toldot/children of their parents.
For example, when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, the text reads with continuous verbs (25:34) "And he ate, and drank, and got up, and went, and scorned Esau his birthright". Had Esau seen the nolad, the outcome of his eating, he would have seen it led directly to the rejection of his hereditary double-inheritance and favored status. And of Jacob is says somewhat softer (27:14) "and he went, and took, and brought [the goat] to his mother." And follows a continuous dialogue of deception as he convinced his blind father that he was his hairy brother, back from the hunt by divine providence (27:20). Jacob got the birthright and the blessing, but he also incurred the wrath of his brother and eternal rebuke. All this, on the assumption that tricking Esau and Isaac would force God into giving him the blessings and wealth (cf. I Samuel 15:29). He did not see the outcome of his deeds.
So, we see how our reading is aptly named. The toldot of Isaac are the stories about his children. Our children live through us. We see in them ourselves reflected, both our strengths and weaknesses. Our children carry with us our lives and our stories. They are our toldot, our stories.
Have a caring week!
Benjamin Fleischer
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