By: Dror Ben Ami

Dror Ben Ami — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:39:17 +0000

I think the Torah is difficult enough to understand and becomes even more confusing when you change the basic story line. Nowhere does it say that Esau's face was red when sold his birthright, nowhere does it say Rebecca was just trying to balance the love of Isaac for Esau and nowhere is there a description of Jacob looking into his blind father's face…..what it does say, however, since you seem to be obsessed with faces, is that the face of Esau was like the face of God.
Also, Joseph was separated from his father for 36 years, not twenty, but hey, who's counting?
The color red is extremely important in relation to Esau and the face, as you have noted, is an important symbol. Hence, when you say, incorrectly, that Esau's face was red, you are combining two images and creating a meaning that is not intended in the story. What is important about Esau is that his hair is red, not his face. Furthermore, it is important that the food he ate is described as "red red" in Hebrew, which I think is a reference to "Adam's ground".
Regardless, a face is a source of ideas and it is the only part of the body usually not covered with clothing. The issue of "face to face" represents an internal conflict and the name "Mahanaim" represents this struggle as well. A walking stick represents a teaching which helps us along the ways of God. Jacob said he left with only a walking stick and returned with two camps.
Esau represents devotion to the deceptive teachings of men, Jacob, by separating himself from all his material wealth, comes into direct contact with the ideas of God. These ideas will change how he walks along the way, but his soul survives. The name Israel means "straight to God". Esau contains both good and bad. He is devoted to a materialistic way of life, yet he is well versed in the teachings of God (after all, he was Isaac's favorite). Jacob, however, want's a more direct relationship with God, and he sacrifices his material wealth in the form of a gift to his brother, in order to follow God's way back to the land given to Abraham and Isaac.

By: Shawn Ruby

Shawn Ruby — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:14:37 +0000

You are right – the editor changed it. I just changed it back…

By: Zsofi Zsilinszky

Zsofi Zsilinszky — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:28:48 +0000

I think the last sentence should read: " It is at those times he rises to become Israel, who struggles with man and God – and prevails."

Comments on: VaYishlach: Jacob and Esau Face Off

By: Dror Ben Ami

By: Shawn Ruby

By: Zsofi Zsilinszky