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November 20, 2006/ 29 Chesvan 5767
Parshat Toldot
Rabbi Joel Schwab
 
 
The Torah insists that even when a first born is the child of “the unloved wife” in a polygamous relationship, he still retains his right to receive a double portion of his father’s estate over other children; “since he is the first fruit of his vigor, the birthright is his due.” (Deut. 21:17) But when it comes to its major heroes, the Bible seems almost uniformly consistent in choosing younger siblings, often to the detriment of the father’s “first fruit of vigor”. Abel, Judah, Moses, David and Solomon are all younger siblings. Even those who were born as miracle children to their childless mothers – Isaac, Joseph, Samuel – all have older half-siblings. Only Noah, Shem and Abraham may be the first born in their families – and even then there is room to doubt.
 
What gives here? Perhaps the answer can be found in this week’s parsha, Toldot. Once again, we read of a miracle birth to a previously childless woman: Rebecca gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. No older siblings here, right?  But the text makes sure we know which of the two was born first, especially through the addition of the detail that “his brother emerged holding the heel of Esau”. (Genesis 25:26) And why does this matter? Because G-d told Rebecca “the older shall serve the younger”. (Genesis 25:23) Just to rub it in, the younger makes his future leadership of the clan clear when he obtains the birthright for a bowl of stew, and he even punctuates that preference by making away with his older (by a few minutes) brother’s blessing, an act that their father confirms is binding when he says “now he must be blessed”. (Genesis 27:33)
 
But if G-d can control anything except our will to do things, why couldn’t G-d just have Jacob be born first? Why go through the emotional anguish of bartered birthrights and stolen blessings when there was a seemingly easier solution: make Jacob the first born and be done with it?
 
In his Dvar Torah on the day of his Bar Mitzvah, a student of mine named Daniel Kass suggested that “G-d saw Jacob as more of a ‘long-term’ thinker”, the brother who understood the long-term implications of the birthright and created a plan to win it. Esau, on the other hand, was a person “eager for instant gratification, a ‘short-term’ thinker.” Since the Jewish people need to be long-term planners, not short-term gratifiers, Jacob was far more suitable as the ancestor of our people than Esau. Danny then came to the conclusion that “if Jacob had been born first, we would not have seen why Jacob was the better choice for carrying on the covenant.” We would just have assumed that his position came because of his birth order.
 
Similarly, it is precisely because they are not the first born that we are forced to recognize Abel’s kavanah  (pure intentions) when offering his sacrifice, Isaac’s faith, Judah’s leadership abilities, Joseph’s skills, Moses’ determination, Samuel’s allegiance to G-d, David’s charisma, and Solomon’s intellect as the reasons for their importance. Innate ability, desire to do G-d’s will, and actual results mark the biblical hero: not some inherited position assigned by random chance. And we learn that truth when we are confronted with Jacob’s need to ascend to his leadership role rather than simply inheriting it.
 
It is a truth that speaks volumes to us living in the 58th century as well, and not just when it comes to birth order. Titles and positions– "rabbi" "president" or "chairperson"–  mean less than skills truly used to further G-d’s goals for humanity; our world and our people need creative input from anyone with the talent, even if such individuals do not have official positions in our organizational structures.
 
It is a truth I learned from a 13-year-old boy’s take on this week’s 3500 year old story.
 
Rabbi Joel Schwab, a member of the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet, is rabbi of Temple Sinai, Middletown, New York.
UJC Rabbinic Cabinet Chair: Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg
Vice Chairs: Rabbi Jonathan Schnitzer, Rabbi Steven Foster
President: Rabbi Bennett F. Miller, D.Min.
Honorary Chair: Rabbi Matthew Simon
Vice President, Jewish Renaissance and Renewal: Dr. Eric Levine
Mekor Chaim Editor & Coordinator: Saul Epstein
Senior Consultant, Rabbinic Cabinet: Rabbi Gerald Weider