Parshas Toldos

Q What are the two major questions asked about the story of Yaacov and Eisav and the blessings of Isaac?
A1. How could Isaac get it so wrong?
2. How does Jacob whose attribute is truth do something so deceitful?
A careful reading should point us in the right direction.
Q What is the highpoint of the story?
A When Jacob goes in to Isaac disguised as Eisav. We are sitting on the edge of our seats wondering if he be exposed or get away with it. Isaac says "the voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Eisav"
Q What is an item that shows up in the story that is not part of the theme? This is a popular question that Rabbi Dovid Fohrman likes to ask.
A Hands. Mentioned five times in the story.
Q What is the most out of place sentence in the story?
A Verse 23 where the Torah tells us "and he did not recognized him because his hands were hairy like Eisav's" This narrative verse is out of place in a story that is primarily dialogue. In addition it doesn’t tell us anything we didn't know.

Perhaps we can tie it all together as follows. Isaac saw Eisav with his faults and qualities. Eisav did not have the voice of Jacob a voice that spoke kindly (sit up please my father) or use the name of G-d (that G-d presented). On the other hand he had hands. Hands can accomplish things. Eisav is a doer not a talker. This is a very important quality in someone who it is hoped will take over the mantle of Abraham’s monotheistic campaign. Isaac decided to go with Eisav intending to bless him in the hopes that the blessings would motivate him to use his talents in the service of G-d all the while aware of his limitations. Now someone stands before him who does not seem to have any limitations. He has the best of both worlds. His voice is that of Jacob speaking of G-dly things yet he has hands that can do things like Eisav’s. That is someone that deserves a bracha. That is someone who you can pin your hopes on. That is someone whom you can give a bracha that is so all encompassing that there is nothing left to give any other child. Which makes sense? If I have a child who has it all give him all the blessing. Did Isaac think Eisav had developed a voice or had Jacob found hands? That remains a good question. Perhaps you have an idea.