Thursday, November 12, 2015

What is Love: Thoughts on Parshat Toldot

In this week parsha the Torah describes the love that Yitzchak shared for him and Rivka’s son Eisav and Rivka for their son Yaacov. The Sfas Emes points out an interesting contrast in the language used for the love that both parents had for their son’s.

In regards to Yitzchak’s love for Eisav the Torah writes “ And Yitzchak loved Eisav because he fed him food that he hunted” (more literal trans. Bereisheit 25:28). Whereas for Rivka the Torah writes just that “ Rivka loved Yaacov” (ibid). From here the Sfas Emes learns that Rivka’s love for Eisav was just a general love for her son for no particular reason. Whereas Yitzchak seems to have mainly loved Eisav because he gave him food. It is the unconditional love which Rivka shares for Yaacov, the Sfas Emes points out that is generally a stronger form of love.
               
On this road which we call life (to paraphrase the theme song to one of the later seasons of the 1990’s sitcom Boy Meets World) we are involved in a variety of different interactions with those around us. Some of these people we consider our  most dear or loved ones. May we strive to express this type of unconditional love for those people and not the love dependent on other things instead.
May Moschiach come soon!
Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom, Gut Shabbes VeChodesh Tov Umevorach and an overall wonderful Rosh Chodesh! Gidon Herschander-Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh Rosh Chodesh Kislev, 5776.


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