A Shiur From HaRav Ilan Segal SHLIT"A
Parshas Toldos
Rivka tells Yaakov to bring her two goats to prepare for Yitzchak. Rashi explains that one was for the Korban Pesach and one was for the Chagiga.
Mefarshim explain that "Brocha" is overflowing, and you can only overflow if
you are full.
The Malbim explains that Yitzchak wanted Yaakov to be like Shevet Levi. His descendents would be devoted to Avodas Hashem and Ruchnius. Esav's children
would be like the rest of Yisrael who are responsible to support Levi's
material needs.
Rivka knew that Yitzchak's vision of a nation composed of a partnership
between Yaakov and Esav was not correct. She had the advantage of the Nevua
she had heard during her pregnancy "Uleom Mileom Ye'ematz." The relationship
between her sons would be antagonistic, and one would always dominate the
other. When Yaakov is up, then Esav is down and vice versa. Yaakov must
exist independently of Esav, and therefore needs to receive the material
Berachos as well.
The mitzvah to take a lamb and slaughter it in Mitzrayim was a symbol of
Bnei Yisrael conquering Mitzrayim and achieving independence at the expense
of Mitzrayim's demise. (Ramban in Parshas Bo).
Yitzchak who thought that Esav and Yaakov would be one nation, sharing this
world and the next world, had no need for a Korban Pesach, as there would be
no domination and no conquest. Rivka, who knew the truth, knew that the
Korban Pesach was essential to the final outcome of the relationship between
her children, so she prepares two goats. The Korban Chagiga is eaten for satisfaction.
This achieves the intention of Yitzchak to tap the source of material Beracha
which must now come to Yaakov. The second Goat is the Korban Pesach which
symbolizes the ultimate victory of Yaakov.
Yitzchak had asked Esav to bring him some food from his hunting. Why didn't
Yitzchak want a Korban Pesach?
Why did Yitzchak ask for food in the first place? Why couldn't he give the
Brocha without eating first?
The sense that all my needs are filled and I do not lack anything, allows
Brocha to be given with a complete heart. This is what Yitzchak wanted to
achieve. Rabeinu Bechayei compares it to Elisha hearing music in order to
receive Ruach Hashem. But, he asks, in that case why didn't Yitzchak ask
for music. He answers that the concept is similar to the Omer on Pesach
where Hashem tells us to bring the grain that we wish to be blessed as an
offering.
This idea could be understood as follows. What is the secret to having your
grain blessed? Hashem says bring it as a Korban. Korban means that which
brings you close. Take your first grain and bring it as a Korban and then
Hashem will bless your crop. If you are going to use your grain as an agent
to bring you close to Hashem, then of course He will give you an abundance.
So too, if Esav uses his gifts and talents constructively, he will deserve
Brocha. Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch explains that Yitzchak tells Esav to
use his hunting skills to bring food to an old weak man, instead of just for
sport and his own pleasure. By doing this, he makes himself deserving of Brocha.
So Yitzchak sends Esav on a mission to engage his skills as a hunter and
forager in the service of others, so that he would receive a blessing that
would equip him for the task Yitzchak envisioned for him. The Beracha of
Ruchnius, Birkas Avraham was always meant for Yaakov. The Beracha meant for
Esav makes no mention of Eretz Yisrael or Birkas Avraham.
Yetzias Mitzrayim is the prototype for the ultimate Geula, when Bnei Yisrael
will be redeemed from the Galus of Edom. That will also take the form of
conquest, the destruction of Edom and independence of Yisrael emerging
having taken the Koach of Malchus back from Bnei Esav. The Kli Yakar points
out in his Perush on the Hagada, that the preferred choice for a Korban
Pesach should be a lamb as lambs are mentioned first in the Pasuk. Also, the
symbol of Mitzrayim was the lamb. Why were goats used predominantly for the
Pesach in Bayis Sheni? He answers that Gedi is related to the word Hagada
which is the mitzvah of the night. Perhaps we can suggest another answer. The lamb is the symbol of Mitzrayim, but the goat, Seir, is reminiscent of Esav. Esav is the Ish
Sair. His land is called Seir. To impersonate him Yaakov covers himself
with goat skins. In Bayis Sheni when we were under foreign domination, the
symbolism of the Korban Pesach was twofold: It not only commemorated
Yetzias Mitzrayim, but also foretold of the ultimate Geula in which the Seir
will be slaughtered and we will defeat Esav.