Parshas Toldos

·56 min·5 clips

Why was the 27th of Cheshvan, the day the Rebbe Rashab should have had his Bris, considered a 'non-entity'?

The episode opens with a discussion of the 27th of Cheshvan, which should have been the day of the Bris (circumcision) of the Rebbe Rashab but was postponed. Rabbi Hecht uses this to introduce the concept of 'Bris Mila Bezmana'—a circumcision in its proper time—and explores scenarios where a Bris is delayed, such as due to a child's health. He broadens this to the idea that all events, from marriages to business deals, occur at a time determined by HaKadosh Baruch Hu (God). The lesson drawn is that humans are not in control and must have faith in divine timing. The shiur then transitions to Parshas Toldos, the weekly Torah portion. Rabbi Hecht notes that Erev Shabbos will be Rosh Chodesh Kislev, a special holiday for Chassidim marking the Rebbe's recovery. The parsha begins with 'Toldos Yitzchok,' the generations of Yitzchok. He references Rashi's explanation that scoffers claimed Avraham and Sarah were too old to have Yitzchok, so God made Yitzchok look exactly like Avraham to prove paternity. Rabbi Hecht questions why this is noteworthy, given that children often resemble parents. He explains that Avraham represented the attribute of Chesed (kindness), while Yitzchok represented Gevurah (judgment/strength), which should manifest in different demeanors and appearances. The Torah's emphasis on their identical faces teaches that Yitzchok, despite his nature, visibly displayed the kindness of his father. The episode then explores the word 'Toldos,' meaning both children/generations and good deeds. It connects Avraham's merit to Yitzchok's ability to have children and perform good deeds. Rabbi Hecht highlights that Yitzchok was the first to have a Bris at eight days old and the first Bar Mitzvah boy. He recounts the Midrash about the giant Og threatening to crush Yitzchok at Avraham's feast, and God's promise that Avraham's descendants would defeat Og. This leads to a message for contemporary Jews facing adversity: to remember the strength inherited from Avraham. The shiur moves to the conflict between Yaakov and Esav in Rivka's womb, where they fought when she passed places of Torah study or idol worship. Rabbi Hecht explains they were fighting over the inheritance of two worlds: Olam Hazeh (this world) and Olam Haba (the world to come). Esav, associated with red, was eager for Olam Hazeh, while Yaakov desired Olam Haba. Rabbi Hecht addresses how Esav could have inclinations toward idolatry while in the womb, suggesting it was part of his nature to conquer his evil inclination. He references the Rambam's two types of Chassidim: one who only seeks good and one who overcomes evil. Yaakov represents the first, Esav the second. The lesson is that Jews should primarily be like Yaakov, studying Torah, but also need to 'hunt' in the world to elevate it. The episode concludes with an analysis of why Yaakov loved Esav, giving him food ('Tzayit b'Fiv'). Rabbi Hecht cites a Midrash where God threatens to destroy the Jewish people, and Yaakov defends them by citing his love for Esav. He then examines Esav's deceptive question to Yitzchok about tithing salt and straw, arguing it was a deep, conniving attempt to appear righteous, not a simple foolish query. Yitzchok, recognizing Esav's high soul fallen low, sought to bless him to elevate it.

As heard by us

A shiur centered on bris timing, the Rebbe Rashab, and the enduring themes of Avraham and Yitzchok.

This shiur is organized around the 27th of Cheshvin and the Rebbe Rashab's bris, using that frame to move into the practical question of mila bezmana and when a bris is done on Shabbos or deferred to Sunday.

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Why you'd press play

You get a bris question, a shmini l'mila frame, and a very busy Torah argument.

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