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November 8 • 2018
jn
t is difficult to imagine two
and Rebecca failed to appreciate the
brothers who are as different
distinct dispositions and skill sets of
from each other as Jacob and
their two sons. While their model of
Esau.
education was successful for Jacob,
Unlike the presentation of
it came at a cost to Esau,
earlier individuals, the Torah
ultimately alienating him.
describes the adolescent
In the end, Jacob carried on
personalities and hobbies
the legacy of his grandfather,
of Jacob and Esau. We learn
Abraham, while Esau seemed
that Jacob spends his time
to abandon it.
at home in his tent, while
Rav Hirsch, therefore,
his brother spends hours in
stresses our responsibility
Rabbi Jared
the field hunting. One must
when it comes to the educa-
Anstandig
wonder: Why does the Torah
tion of our children: We must
Parshat
feel a need to provide these
realize that each child has
Toldot:
details when it does not do
his or her own unique way of
Genesis
the same for the others?
learning and experiencing the
25:19-28:9; world. As parents and educa-
Rav Samson Raphael
Malachi
Hirsch, a 19th-century
tors, we must be mindful of
1:1-2:7.
German biblical commentator,
the fact that no two siblings
suggests the Torah’s detailed
or students are identical.
characterization of Jacob and
Not only does Rav Hirsch’s
Esau conveys a particular educational message ring true for the education
message. In the great debate between of our children, but also for each of
“nature” and “nurture,” Rav Hirsch
us as individuals as well. Each of us
suggests both are at play. Jacob and
has a particular set of interests and
Esau ended up on vastly different
strengths. In our individual ways,
paths later in life as not only the
we each find aspects of Judaism that
result of different inborn personali-
speak powerfully to us, while we also
ties, but also because of the way their experience elements with which we
parents raised them as children.
struggle to fully relate. Before we
While we hold the matriarchs
judge our religion to be irrelevant or
and patriarchs in high regard and
unrelatable, let us keep on exploring.
esteem, we realize they were also
We owe it to ourselves, as life-
human and susceptible to the same
long learners of Torah and Judaism,
mistakes as anyone else. According
to keep seeking out those avenues
to Rav Hirsch, Rebecca and Isaac
of our religion that light our inner
erred in their parenting methods.
sparks. It is our responsibility to
Rav Hirsch, referencing a verse
take our own Jewish education and
from the Book of Proverbs, writes,
involvement seriously and to deepen
“[Isaac and Rebecca] overlooked
our connections and our commit-
the cardinal principle of education:
ments to our faith. ■
chanoch lana’ar al pi darko, educate
each child in accordance with his or Rabbi Jared Anstandig is rabbi of the Orthodox
community at University of Michigan Hillel.
her own way” (Proverbs 22:6). Isaac