Eisav’s Reasoning

Rabbi Twerski compares Eisav’s behavior at the time of the selling of the birthright, to many of the scoffers of our religion.

He describes the meeting over the lentil soup in a unique way. When Eisav asks why the lentil soup, Yakov informs his brother that their grandfather, Avraham, had passed away. Eisav reacts to the news by claiming how unjust it was for their saintly grandfather to be taken from this world. It is another indication that the world is not run by fairness and goodness, if such a man could be taken.

Eisav was showing why his way of life of living for the moment, made the most sense. He did not believe in עולם הבא, the World to Come, and certainly did not believe in תחיית המתים, the Resurrection of the Dead.

Yakov then realized that the birthright should be his, and Eisav willingly sold it to him. Unfortunately, there are many scoffers among us, that share Eisav’s views. If they would only open their eyes and see the bigger picture, they might realize just how special it is to be a Jew.