Parshas Toldot

A commentary by Rabbi Avram Davis

In this parsha we enter into the realm and theme of blindness.  How we are blind to so many things and where our
blindness drive us to remember and forget.

“Isaac’s eyes became dimmed from seeing (literal translation) from the impact of that vision. 
For when Abraham bound his son on the altar, the ministering angels cried, as it is written ‘Hark, the Arielites cry aloud’ (Is. 33:7).  
And tears dropped from their eyes into his eyes and were imprinted into his eyes.  And when he became old,
his eyes became dimmed, from seeing.”  (Genesis Rabbah  65)

From to much light, Isaac became blind.  From seeing what?  His father seeking to sacrifice him?
The inter-family fighting and hostility?  From the lateness of Gd speaking out to stop the slaughter?

 It is blindness and sadness.  A deep, mind altering sadness.  And it affects everyone in the story.  

In the story Isaac favors Esav, his wife Rebecca favors Jacob.  All of their love is reduced
to tricking and lieing to each other.  Imposing a blindness on the other, as well as they can. 

Isaac yearns for the emptiness of the open field.  The non constriction of things.  The simplicity of the life.  
And so he favors Esav. He is haunted by the past.  He loves Esav, not because they are so different
but because they are both so broken, filled by the blindness of life around them. 

When Rebecca first comes upon Isaac he is meditating.  Where is he meditating?  He is meditating
on Mt. Moriah, the place of his own sacrifice.  He wants to forget. And Esav wants to forget.  

Esav says:  "Of what use is my birthright?" That is, his place in the family; his place in life.  
Esav wants to forget.  He says: ‘Of what use is my birthright….” And Isaac wants to forget.  
Does his blindness help him see less or force him to see more?

All of us, often, want to forget.  And so we make ourselves....blind — in one way or another.
Does this blindness help us or hinder us in our quest for life and greater understanding?

The Torah is not really making a judgment here.  It is really only detailing how people often are.  
Drawing a picture of life and the complications that come with consciousness.  It is pointing out the humanness of
our teachers in the Torah and by understanding the and their struggles, we can more easily understand ourselves.