Genesis

בייה

We will approach our discussion about meat and veggie by considering the pretense of Esau in comparison to the authenticity of Jacob. How does Holy Scripture present them? Esau and Jacob were raised in a kosher home, given a brit milah/circumcision, and sent to learn in the academy of Shem and Eber.

The sons of Isaac and Rivkah are defined by their names and actions. Everyone’s name is significant because our names reveal our essence. The name of Esau the elder means ‘ruff one or blood,’ and the name of Jacob the younger means’ heel grabber or supplanter.’ At age fifteen, R. Johanan informs us that wicked [Esau] committed five sins on the day his grandfather, Abraham, died. He dishonored a betrothed maiden, he committed a murder, he denied God, he denied the resurrection of the dead, and he spurned the birthright’ (Bava Basra 16b). Rape and murder bring about blood.

(Genesis 25.29-30) says, ‘Jacob cooked pottage; [for mourners on the day Abraham died] and Esau came from the field and was famished. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Feed me, I beg you, with that same red pottage; for I am famished;’ therefore was his name called Edom.’

(Genesis 27.34-36) says, ‘When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried with a great and very bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless me also, O my father. And [Isaac] said, ‘Your brother [Jacob] came with cunning and has taken away your blessing. And [Esau] said, Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times; he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing.’

Genesis 25.27) says, ‘the boys grew; and Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet [perfect] man, יֹשֵׁב YohShayv – dwelling in tents [of Torah learning]. (Bereshit Rabba 63.10) says,‘In two tents, The Academy of Shem and the Academy of Eber.’

Esau had bloody hands. He murdered humans and animals whereas Jacob was a polite, well mannered, student of Ha Torah. Their lives reveal who they are!

Based on what we know, we could say Esau was a bloody meat lover, and Jacob was a gentle, mild vegetarian. Okay, maybe it’s not exactly like that, but Ha Torah distinctly differentiates between how Isaac and Rivkah’s sons lived.

There was a prounouced lack of sibling support between the brothers.

(Genesis 36.6-8) says, ‘And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his wealth, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went to another country, away from his brother Jacob. Their riches were more than that they might live together, and the land where they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle. Thus, Esau lived in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.’

(Psalms 133) says, ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that runs down upon the beard, Aaron’s beard, that runs down to the hem of his garments. Like the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there our Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore.’

How does this apply to us?

(Genesis 25.22-23) says, ‘The children struggled inside her. She wondered, why am I experiencing this? And [Rivkah and Issac] went to inquire of our Lord. [Some say Isaac took Rivkah to the place of the Akeidah, where he was offered as a sacrifice. Others say Rivkah went to Melchizedek, i.e., Shem the Novie/prophet] And our Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your bowels, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger.’ Who was the stronger? Is Ha Torah speaking of Physical strength, or Spiritual strength, or both? The point is that Esau had the potential to be greater. The door was open to him. That is why Ha Torah clarifies this Scripture by informing us that ‘the elder shall serve the younger.’ Ha Torah informs us that Esau did not reach his full potential. He could have been the greater, but Jacob came out on top each time. Regardless if you are a meat eater or a vegetarian, go for it. Be the best you can be in serving our Lord and each other.

May we help each other! May we bring peace and healing to our world! May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day. May we arise and go to Beth-EL – the house of God.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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