Lead Tidbit
A Complex Relationship
Yaakov and Eisav were not only brothers, they were twins. Far from being
identical, they displayed their differences in the womb. Through their childhood, they developed different personalities. And then they became adversaries.

At the end of Parshat Toldot, Rivka finds out that Eisav plans to kill his brother and she and Yitzchak send Yaakov away to the house of Lavan, to protect him from Eisav and to find a wife (or two or four). Parshat Vayeitzei began with a dream of angels as Yaakov was about to cross the border on his way out of Eretz Yisrael, and the sedra neatly ends with an encounter of angels as he is about to return to Eretz Yisrael. Yaakov's return is blocked by his encounter with the Guardian Angel of Eisav, and with his encounter with Eisav himself. Yaakov obviously fears for his life and those of his family, and he takes certain steps to prepare for the reunion of brothers. When they meet, there is a hug and kiss - the sincerity of which, our Sages question.

Most significantly, we see Yaakov's refusal to "link up" with Eisav and his band and we are introduced to the idea that there is a Fact of Jewish Life - Eisav hates Yaakov.

Eisav's grandson is Amalek. Need we say more? Yes, we do. When the people of Israel approach Eretz Yisrael at the end of their 40 years of wandering, they are warned not to fight against Edom. And we are commanded not to torment an Edomite - because he is our brother. But we are commanded to destroy Amalek. Our "ups" are Eisav's "downs", and vice versa. Ovadya tells us that we are fire to their straw. But we also know that ultimately there will be a reconciliation. We must always be wary of the Eisavs of the world, no matter what they seem to say to the contrary. And we must always be hopeful of the brighter future in store.