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Why does the Torah (תורה) emphasize Esav selling the birthright over his worse sins—murder, adultery, denying God? The act of belittling (vayivez) the birthright exposes the worst spiritual defect: refusing to work on oneself. When we denigrate what we know is valuable instead of addressing our inadequacy, we become hopeless—no longer capable of growth or teshuva (תשובה).
Rabbi Zweig addresses a fundamental question in Parshas Toldos: Why does the Torah (תורה) devote five verses to Esav selling the birthright while only hinting at his far graver sins—murder, adultery, and denial of God—in Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary? If the Torah wishes to demonstrate Esav's wickedness, surely these heinous acts would be more telling than a business transaction that isn't even technically sinful. The key lies in the final phrase: "vayivez Esav es habechorah"—Esav belittled or abused the birthright. Rashi states this verse testifies to Esav's wickedness. The Midrash connects this word "vayivez" to Haman, who similarly "belittled" (vayivez be'einav) taking revenge only on Mordechai and instead sought to annihilate all the Jewish people. The Midrash calls Haman a descendant of Esav and labels Esav himself as "booz ben booz"—degraded, son of degraded.
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Bereishis 25:29-34 (Parshas Toldos)
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