Names
According to Pshat, what were the names of Rivkah and Yitzchak's twins, and why were they named thus?
Esav - "admoni k'aderet seiar"
Yaakov - "v'yado ochezet ba'ekev"
How old was Yitzchak when he married Rivkah?
According to Midrash, how old was Rivkah when she married Yitzchak?
40
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"The voice is the voice of Yaakov and the hands are the hands of Esav"
"HaKol kol Yaakov, v'hayadayim y'dei Esav"
Where did Rivkah go to inquire as to what was happening inside her womb?
Yeshivat Shem v'Ever
What does Hashem bless Yitzchak with, when he goes to Gerar to escape the famine?
I will be with you and bless you
To you and your offspring I will give these lands
I will uphold the oath that I swore to Avraham your father
Why is Esav also called "Edom"?
Because he exchanged everything for some red lentil soup.
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"And the children fought struggled within her"
"Vayitrotzetzu HaBanim B'Kirbah"
Why was Yaakov cooking? And why specifically lentil soup?
Avraham Avinu had just passed away, Yitzchak was sitting Shivah and lentils are customary food for mourners.
Why?
Because lentils are round, symbolising the turning wheel of life. And because lentils have no mouth (opening), and a mourner has no mouth (ie: doesn't respond to another's greetings).
"I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Avraham my servant"
What were the names of the three wells Yitzchak dug, to satisfy the herdsmen of Gerar? And what was the meaning behind each name?
Esek - "ki hitasku imo" - bc they fought with him.
Sitnah - bc they quarrelled with him
Rechovot - "ki atah hirchiv Hashem lanu" - bc now there is a lot of space
How old was Esav when he got married?
40.
How is Esav described, and how is Yaakov described, once they grew up?
Esav: Ish Yodeiah Tzayid, Ish Sadeh
Yaakov: Ish Tam, Yoshev Ohalim
Three reasons why Yaakov's eyes "dimmed from seeing":
1. Through the smoke of Esav's wives burning incense for their idols.
2. The tears of the angels who saw what was happening at the time of Akeidat Yitzchak fell into his eyes.
3. So that Yaakov should be able to take the Brochos.
When do we say the blessings that Yitzchak gave to Yaakov?
Motzei Shabbos, after Havdolah
According to Esav, why was Yaakov called Yaakov?
"Hachi kara shmo yaakov? Vaya'akveini zeh paamayim?!"
Is he called Yaakov, he has outwitted me these two times?!
How many wives did Esav have, and who were they?
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Yehudit bat Be'eri HaChiti
Bosmat bat Elon HaChiti
Machalat bat Yishmael, ben Avraham, achot Nevayot
"Hal'iteinu na min ha'adom ha'adom hazeh!"
Why, when the Pasuk mentions Esav getting married, does Rashi compare him to a pig?
Just as a pig tries to show his split hooves as if to convince everyone he is Kosher, so too, the descendants of Esav (Romans), rob and steal and pretend to all that they are Kesherim. They learn this from Esav, who for the first 40 years of his life would forcibly take any woman he wanted, married women, and violate them. But when he turned 40 he said "My father married when he was forty, so I will do the same."
This is an example of his swinish hypocrisy. He compared himself to his holy father, although is father spent his first 40 years in holiness, learning and prayer, and Esav spent his first 40 years committing adultery.
What blessing did Yitzchak give to Esav?
Wealth
Live by the sword
Using Lashon HaPassuk, prove that Yaakov did not lie when Yitzchak asked him who he was, when he brought him the food that Rivkah had prepared.
Vayomer Yaakov el aviv: Anochi! Esav B'chorecha. Asiti - i have done many things, Ka'asher dibarta eilay - as you have told me.
How many blessings did Yaakov receive from Yitzchak?
7
- dew of the heavens
- fatness of the earth
- abundant grain
- wine
- people will serve you
- regimes will prostrate themselves to you
- you will be a master over your brother and his descendants
1. Yitzchak "trembled a great trembling" when he realised Esav had come for a blessing.
2. Why?
1. "Vayecherad Yizchak Charadah Gedolah ad meod!"
2. He saw the pits of Gehinnom open up beneath him!
Why are Esav's garments called "Chamudot"? (chamishi)
"the coveted/desired ones". Why? Because Esav saw the garments that belonged to Nimrod and desired them for himself.
These originally belonged to Adam. All sorts of animals were depicted on them. Passed down through the generations to Noach, then Nimrod, and then Esav saw and coveted them, murdered Nimrod, and took the garments for himself.
What blessing did Yaakov receive from Yitzchak, right before he left to Padan Aram? (2)
May Hashem bless you and make you fruitful and numerous, v'hayita likhal amim.
May He grant you the blessing of Avraham, that your descendants possess the land of your travels, which He gave to Avraham