The first narrative that describes Jacob’s actions begins with Esav coming back from a field, famished. And Jacob is making a delicious nazid, a delicious stew. The Hebrew is vague as to what kind of stew this is. And when Esav sees it, he begs his brother (Genesis 25:30):
הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָֽאָדֹ֤ם הָֽאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי
Please, give me a gulp of the red-stuff, that red-stuff, for I am so weary!
I offer you the literal translation of Dr. Everett Fox so that you notice Esav’s language. He doesn't call the stew a nazid like the narrator calls it. He asks for ha’adom ha’adom, the red-stuff, the red-stuff. Either he is so tired that he is delusional and cannot even identify what the food truly is, or he is in the process of fainting, and is stuttering his words.
And it is at this point that Jacob had a few options – he could ignore or reject his brother; he could generously offer food; or he could make a deal over the beloved birthright. Jacob chooses the third option.
To this action, and the subsequent deception of his father Isaac for the birthright, the rabbis respond by saying midah keneged midah – that measure for measure, Jacob meets deception later in his life. He is deceived in the marriage of Rachel, he is deceived with his son Joseph, he is deceived in every element of his later life.
Our rabbis teach us (Mishna Avot 4:2):
מִּצְוָה גּוֹרֶרֶת מִצְוָה, וַעֲבֵרָה גוֹרֶרֶת עֲבֵרָה
A mitzvah initiates another mitzvah, and a sin initiates another sin.
And this teaching surely seems to apply to the story of Jacob.
As we ourselves begin the Thanksgiving season, we may not be approached by a brother who physically comes up to us, desperate for food. But we know that there are so many people in desperate need, in our immediate community, and throughout the world. So what will you do this time of year, to support others in their need for food, to initiate more mitzvot in our world?
This past Sunday, a group of 6th-8th graders baked over a dozen pies for the Night Ministry, supporting thousands of members of our community who otherwise might not be able to have a festive Thanksgiving meal. And in a few weeks, our Religious School is taking part in the Lakeview Pantry’s Toy Drive. Instead of treating this season as a time just to think about what we personally will get as presents, we are celebrating our community’s desire to give to people in need.
So as you approach Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, I hope that you’ll consider how you can give and share, and how to teach that to family and friends, so that we do not fall into the same trap that our ancestor Jacob did.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Russo
