Jewish Life Digital Edition January 2014 | Page 18

PARENTING

FEATURE

SOMETIMES A MITZVAH

IS ONLY A GOOD DEED
BY ROBERT SUSSMAN

ACCORDING TO OUR SAGES, YAAKOV AVINU (OUR
patriarch) and his brother Eisav (aka Esau)
were not merely twins, but identical twins,
who, at least from the outside, were nearly
indistinguishable. When Yaakov and Eisav
were young children, not only did they look
alike, but any differences that existed in
their behaviour were indiscernible, thus
making it impossible to perceive their true
nature. Accordingly, the twin brothers were

14 JEWISH LIFE

ISSUE 69

given the same upbringing and education
by their parents, Yitzchak Avinu (our patriarch) and Rivkah Imeinu (our matriarch).
Once Yaakov and Eisav reached barmitzvah (the age of maturity), however, the radical differences in their personalities began
suddenly, albeit surreptitiously, to emerge,
as Yaakov withdrew to the Beis HaMedrash
(the study hall) and Eisav withdrew to avodah zorah (worshipping idols). Despite hav-

WITH THE SECOND
SET OF LUCHOS, WHICH
WERE GIVEN AFTER THE
SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF
WHEN THE JEWISH
PEOPLE SUFFERED A
SIGNIFICANT DECLINE
FROM THE LOFTY LEVEL
ON WHICH THEY HAD
BEEN, THEY NEEDED TO BE
CAUTIONED TO FULFIL THE
MITZVAH BECAUSE
HASHEM COMMANDED
IT, AND NOT FOR ANY
OTHER REASON.

ing been raised by two tzadikim (righteous
people), Eisav failed to internalise anything
from their influence and behaviour. Our
sages teach that Avraham Avinu (our patriarch) was spared from