One of our favorite stories in Torah is about Jacob and Esau. In Toledot (Genesis 25:19ff), we read that Jacob was a man of the tent, and Esau was a man of the field. Their differences showed up early as they sought different things for themselves in their future. Ultimately, each one found his way and each was promised a world that would be of their own making and blessed by God.
Like Jacob and Esau, we discover that whether or not we are a twin, all of us have competing interests within us. Like Jacob, who favored being home to study (and cook), and Esau, who favored being in the field to hunt, we can struggle with our inclinations, too. Judaism teaches that we have two energies or “yetzers” in us: yetzer haTov, the good energy or inclination, and yetzer haRa, the evil energy or inclination. Notice that these so-called energies are within us. We possess them. They were created in us. Evil is not external to us like some tempter. We are capable of both good and evil. Judaism further teaches that while the good inclination is obvious and leads us to do all kinds of mitzvot (good deeds), the evil inclination isn’t as clear.
Surely, the evil inclination could lead us to do deeds that are simply awful. But, the evil inclination could also lead us to pursue certain personal desires, such as building a career, a house, and a family. I know it sounds strange. Our rabbis explained that these fine goals could be evil if the career served only ourselves or created a challenge to the environment. Our house could be evil if it was a place of danger in the neighborhood. And, our family members could be evil if we raised them to be thoughtless members of the community. But, when it is combined with good, the evil inclination can motivate us to produce something for ourselves, namely a fine career, a sturdy home and beautiful family. A prosperous career should lead to charitable giving. A beautiful home can be a place where happy children grow and traditions are celebrated. The goal is to temper our inclinations, both good and evil.
My own circle of family and friends is fairly inclined to good, but I can understand personal desires to build a dream home, to give children the best the family can afford, and to pursue a passionate career. It’s the manner in which we harness the energies within us that best measure who we are. In the end, Esau was not the model of our Jewish future. He had a “taste for the hunt” and he easily abandoned his birthright for a bowl of soup. Our future as a people was built on Jacob’s “taste for Torah.” He was driven by his passionate desire to obtain the birthright and be the father of nations. Some might question his tactics. Ends shouldn’t justify the means. But, it isn’t difficult to identify with Jacob’s appetite to participate in the future of the Israelite people.
Jacob and Esau were born together but each one became an individual who pursued his personal passion and inclination. It’s true for you and me, too. As descendants of Jacob, we share a taste for Torah, and all that it commands and commends us to do and to be.
From my family to yours, Shabbat Shalom.
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