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Why does the Torah (תורה) emphasize that Esav despised his birthright after he had already sold it? The mockery reveals Esav's devastating recognition of his mistake - if the birthright were truly worthless, he would have forgotten it. This psychological pattern of attacking what we've lost rather than taking responsibility prevents teshuvah and explains why sinat chinam causes longer exile than other sins.
Rabbi Zweig begins by examining a Tosafos (תוספות) question in Bava Basra regarding Esav's five sins, wondering why the Torah (תורה) specifically emphasizes 'vayivez' (despising the birthright) when it wasn't technically forbidden. He also addresses the Midrash's description of Esav as 'bazui ben bazui' (despised, son of despised) and questions what made Esav himself despised rather than just a despiser. The core insight emerges from understanding that vayivez occurred after Esav had already sold the birthright. Rabbi Zweig asks: why would Esav continue to mock and despise the birthright after the transaction was complete? The answer reveals a devastating psychological truth - Esav understood he had made a terrible mistake, but instead of taking responsibility and attempting to rectify it, he chose to constantly diminish the value of what he had lost.
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Bava Basra, End of Perek 1
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