Parshas Toldos: Creating a Lasting Legacy!

"He (Isaac) went up from there to Beer-Sheba. G-d appeared to him that night and said, "I am the G-d of your father Abraham: Fear not, for I am with you; I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant." -Genesis 26:23-24

Isaac was thrown out of the city of Grur as a result of the jealousy caused by his wealth. He had been living outside of the city, and he desired to return to city living in order to set up his outreach operation. There was just one catch. He was still fabulously wealthy. If jealousy caused his ills in the first place, what was his guarantee that in Be'er Sheba the people would not be jealous? Thereupon, G-d appeared to him and blessed him.

Upon closer examination of the blessing, seemingly his issue wouldn't be mitigated. Isaac was already blessed with riches; and frankly, his wealth was the cause of the jealousy in the first place. What could this blessing contain? Additionally, this blessing was being given in the merit and for the good of Abraham. How would Isaac's blessing of wealth be beneficial to Abraham who was in the Higher World?

Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin (popularly known as the Netziv, 1817-1893) explains that G-d was giving Isaac a new blessing. The blessing being given was that Isaac's progeny who study Torah (Jacob and not Esau) will have an aura of grace resting upon them. This will find them favor in the eyes of the local population. This blessing came into effect immediately. In fact, Jacob had such a positive presence in Be'er Sheba, that his departure left a noticeable void in the city's pleasant nature.

A blessing for wealth would have been redundant and counterproductive. The blessing of charm for the students of Torah was precisely the essential ingredient needed to ensure the vitality of Torah which in turn safeguards the Jewish People. This blessing was the greatest possible blessing for Abraham. In fulfillment of this blessing, the Talmud (Yoma 83) notes that Jacob would teach the Torah which he learnt from Abraham. This was only possible in Be'er Sheba where the populace resided. Therefore the blessing was given on the dawn of his arrival there.

The Talmud teaches us that if a deceased person's Torah is being learnt, it is considered that the deceased person's lips are still moving in the grave, and the deceased person receives reward for that Torah study. The greatest possible blessing for Abraham was the ability for his descendants to study his Torah in comfort. This blessing was given at night to signify the lasting nature of this blessing even for the darkness of exile. As long as the Jewish people study Torah, the non-Jewish world will respect them and tolerate them. Abraham’s legacy still lives on today through his Torah.

Everybody seeks to leave some sort of positive legacy. Abraham taught us what a legacy is. A material inheritance oftentimes shreds families apart. A moral legacy however, brings them much closer together. The true legacy to leave behind is an eternal one. So what should our legacy be? The Talmud teaches us that our actions serve as the greatest legacy of all. Each person will have their unique mission and message. That said, only a Torah based message will survive the travails of history.

May we all merit to live the very legacy that we so deeply wish to impart to future generations. Amen!