Parshat Toldot

Parshat Toldot

This week's section introduces us to the struggle between the holy patriarch
Yaakov and his evil twin brother Esav.

This eventually would become the eternal conflict between the Jews and
gentiles (i.e. the Church, the athiests etc.) that will be resolved only by
the Moshiach himself.

But interestingly, the works of Chassidut and Kabala explain that the way
that Moshiach will settle it is by revealing the fact that, in his essence,
Esav is really holier that Yaakov!

This is already hinted at by the fact that Yitzchak wanted to bless Esav
more than he did Yaakov and that Esav desperately wanted that blessing -
they both sensed this holiness.

To understand this here are two stories I heard about the fifth Rebbe of
Chabad Rebbe Shalom Dovber, called the Rebbe ReShab for short whose birthday
was last week (20th of Cheshvan)

Rabbi Yaakov Landa was a follower (Chassid) of the Rebbe ReShab but not the
usual type of Chassid. The Rebbe took an unusual liking to him and even made
him the 'House Rabbi'. Any questions that arouse in the household of the
Rebbe; if a chicken is kosher, if something is permissible on Shabbat etc.
would be directed to Rabbi Landa. And, needless to say, the devotion of
Rabbi Landa to the Rebbe was boundless.

In addition to being a great Scholar, Rabbi Landa was a very knowledgeable
man in mundane things as well and was an expert at home remedies.

(For instance I once was at a wedding when the groom suddenly began
suffering from an uncontrollable nosebleed. One of Rabbi Landa's sons (Rabbi
Moshe who is now chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak) rushed to him, said he had a
trick he learned from his father, found a piece of string, tied it very
tightly around the base of the fellow's little finger and after a few
seconds amazingly the bleeding completely stopped!! Since then I have used
this tens of times to help people with nosebleed and it works every time!)

When the very contagious and deadly disease of Typhus broke out in Russia
near the turn of the century Rav Landa had ample opportunity to use his
skills. The regular doctors, besides having virtually no treatment for
Typhus, were also understandably very reluctant to come in contact with the
sick while Rav Landa both did have remedies and did not fear for himself
when it came to saving others.

He succeeded in healing hundreds but it was almost inevitable that he
eventually contracted the disease himself.

In a matter of days he lost consciousness and his life was hanging in the
balance for several weeks until the crisis finally passed and he came to.

The only problem was that when he was sick and unconscious the Rebbe Reshab
passed away unbeknownst to him.

Every day Rav Landa was taken from his room outside into the sun to get
stronger until after several more weeks he was back to his old self. Of
course all the time he was recovering he asked everyone that passed by about
the Rebbe's health but the Chassidim agreed among themselves not mention a
word to him about the Rebbe's passing. The answer was always the same 'the
Rebbe is fine'.

But Rabbi Landa sensed that something was wrong and kept asking until
somehow he got the one person that didn't know about this agreement and he
heard the bitter truth.

A normal person can understand what a terrible blow this must have been to
him; A Rebbe is more than just a leader or even a father, the Rebbe
virtually reveals the soul and true essence of the Chassid.

And the relation between Rav Landa and the Rebbe Reshab was even deeper and
more personal than that; Rav Landa had been near the Rebbe day and night and
his life was virtually tied up with his.

That night Rabbi Landa wrote a short letter to the Rebbe. He folded the
letter up, put it in an envelope and the next morning when he was taken
outside he waited for the same man to pass, handed him the letter and
requested that he put it on the Rebbe's grave and tell no one about it.

In the letter he wrote that he wanted the Rebbe to take him away from this
world. He wanted to be with the Rebbe because he felt that life was worth
nothing without him.

Two days later the Rebbe's son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (who became the Rebbe
in his father's stead) came to visit Rabbi Landa. He pulled up a chair, sat
next to his bed where he was laying in the sunlight and said, "I just was by
my father's grave and he gave me a message to give over to you,"

Rav Landa ushered up all his strength, propped himself up on the bed and
prepared himself for the Rebbe's message from 'beyond'. When the Rebbe's
son saw Rav Landa was ready he continued.

"My father said: "Stop making stupid requests!'"

The second story occurred several years afterwards.

Rabbi Landa had an offer from some very solid and trustworthy businessmen to
join them in an investment outside of Russia that was almost sure to bring
in big profits. These businessmen, besides being his friends, admired his
deep mind and ability to think straght and felt he would be an asset to
their endeavor. He would not have to leave the country, rather he would
give advice and invest a portion of the money.

It was very tempting. Rabbi Landa had a good business sense and this seemed
a sure thing but he could not make such a decision without consulting the
Rebbe.

Here was a problem. He was still tied heart and soul to the Rebbe Reshab
and the Rebbe Reshab had left this world years earlier. So he decided to
consult the Rebbe's son and replacement (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, nicknamed the
Raayatz) before he said yes.

He set an appointment with the Raayatz and when the time came entered with
awe and trepidation to ask his question.

As he entered he noticed a large tractate of the Talmud on the table between
them with one page folded over.

He asked his question and the Rebbe Raayatz pointed to the Talmud and said,
"Open it up please."

Rabbi Landa did as he was told; he opened the book to the folded page and
immediately caught his eye a line that said "It is better to invest money
near one's home than far away."

"This is pure prophesy!" He thought to himself, "He knew what my question
would be and how to answer it through this page of the Talmud!"

"Not at all" answered the Rebbe Raayatz aloud. "It wasn't my prophesy. You
see, just before you entered, my father (the Rebbe Reshab who had passed
away years earlier) was here and told me to fold over this page of the
Talmud and show it to you. It was he that gave the advice!"

Both of these stories show the importance of this physical world. And that
is the implication of Esav.

Generally speaking Esav represents this world; the entire creation spiritual
as well as physical. The very name Esav, means 'completely made'; as the
creation seems complete and independent of a Creator.

But Yaakov represents the Creator. 'Yaakov' is an anagram of "Yud Akav"
namely revealing 'Yud'; the first and highest letter of G-d's name even in
the 'Akav'; the heels of creation.

That is why the non-Jews; atheists and religious as well, have opposed
Judaism for thousands of years. Because they are interested only in the
creation and self-aggrandizement while the Jews, like Yaakov live for the
Creator and His aggrandizement.... and the two seem to be opposites.

But Moshiach will reveal that Esav really has a higher source; that this
world and the unique job that each of us has in it is really of foremost
importance.

As the Rebbe Reshab revealed to Rabbi Landa first telling him that it is
better to be yourself in this physical world than negated to G-d anywhere
else.. and then, in the second story, 'leaving' the 'upper worlds' to give
advice down here in the world of Esav.

This is because G-d wants us to reveal the true purpose in the CREATION.

It is here that He put man and gave the Torah. It will be here that Moshiach
will gather the Jews, build the Temple, make heaven on earth through the
seven Noahide commandments and finally even raise the dead.

Then we will clearly see that the physical creation is 'closer' to the
creator than the highest of spiritual worlds.

That is why Yitzchak wanted to bless Esav; he wanted all this to happen
thousands of years ago. But it was impossible.

The bringing of Moshiach and revelation of the essence of Esav depends on
US, NOW. After all this time the responsiblity rests on our shoulders to do
all we can to bring....

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim
Kfar Chabad, Israel

Donate to Ohr Tmimim: www.ohrtmimim.org/donate

----------------------------------------------------
This week's Torah Online sponsored by:
Smith & Associates, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1601
New York, New York 10176
Telephone: (212) 661-7010 Fax: (212) 661-8285
----------------------------------------------------

______________________________________________________________________
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe please visit: www.ohrtmimim.org/subscriptions