ONE QUESTION; WHICH DIRECTION
Parshas Toldos introduces us to the birth of Yaakov and Eisov, the central players of world history. Yaakov plays the role of the hero who will bring the world to its ultimate destiny when HaShem will be recognized and accepted by all. Eisov plays the role of Yaakov’s nemesis. Eisov is the one who tries to block Yaakov, using his many tactics, from achieving his goal. Hashgacha had it that these two players be born to the same parents in the same womb at the same time – they are twins. Their dichotomous relationship is reminiscent of the two goats that were prepared for the Yom Kippur service. They were supposed to be the same height, same value and as much as possible to resemble one another. One of these goats would be brought before HaShem in the Bais Hamikdosh and the other thrown down a cliff to appease the satan. The only distinction was the direction they were going.
These two children shared a great strength that would impacte world history. Their point of departure was only the direction they would use this strength. Like two powerful magnets, they shared the same strength but one was stationed on the right pulling the left towards him and the other was stationed on the left pulling the right towards him.
The Sheim Mishmuel explains that both Yaakov and Eisov were blessed with the ability to connect the two opposing worlds of the spiritual and the material. Yaakov positioned himself in the spiritual world and pulled the material world upward. Eisov positioned himself in the material world and pulled the spiritual world downward.
With what force were these two children blessed with? How does one connect these two opposite worlds?
There is a principle in halacha called ikur and tofel; primary and secondary. The primary units of the army are the soldiers on the front, the secondary units are the chefs and cooks who prepare the meals for the soldiers. The banana is primary and its peel is secondary. The banana has inherent value. The peel has no inherent value; its purpose is to serve the banana.
In Halacha we attribute the ikur as the object of halacha and the tofel is disregarded. One example is determining the bracha that is recited for a certain food. The ikur establishes the bracha. Another example; If one carries a single grain of barley on Shabbos they have not desecrated Shabbos because one grain is insignificant. If one carries a spoon, they have desecrated the Shabbos. If one uses the spoon to transport that one grain of barley then the spoon is the tofel and the grain is the ikur. In that case a desecration has not occurred because the spoon is tofel to the grain and the amount of grain is insignificant.
Behold! A golden spoon worth much money becomes less meaningful than a single grain of barley when it is used to serve the barley.
Everything Yaakov did was for one purpose; to bring Glory to HaShem – there was no other purpose. Any involvement in the material world was driven by that single purpose. The material was tofel to the spiritual. He was thereby able to elevate the entire material world heavenward.
Eisov, like Yaakov, also did everything for just one purpose but the purpose was in the opposite direction. Any involvement in the spiritual world was driven by that single purpose. The halacha questions that he asked his father were driven for material gains. His desire for the blessings was to further his material aspirations. Eisov made the spiritual tofel to the material. He was thereby able to shlep the spiritual downwards.
As children of Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov we are blessed with the power of establishing what is the ikur and what is the tofel. With that incredible power we are the ones who change the direction of world history.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind