Jacob Steals the Blessings

What was Isaac thinking? a closer reading of the text--and subtexts--of the story of the "stolen blessings" reveals a debate between Isaac and Rebecca beyond the commonly-thought "favorite son" contest

Was he right to deceive his father and to take from his brother the blessing Isaac sought to give him?

Esau is born red and as hairy as an adult, and so he remains—red, intense, driven, violent. Jacob is born with his issues as well. Timid, a bookworm, Mama’s boy. Yet he is willing to acknowledge and confront Esau...

Esau was understandably perturbed over losing the blessing. But why was he suddenly concerned over his birthright? He had surrendered it with barely a protest years earlier, so what changed now?

Why didn't Jacob and his mother just march openly into Isaac's room, bring proof of Esau's wickedness and convince Isaac that Jacob was the more worthy candidate in the first place?

How could Jacob accept Rebbeca’s offer to take his father’s curses upon herself? There must be a reason for this seeming lack of care.

Why did Isaac, the quintessential spiritual person, someone who was prepared to offer himself as a sacrifice to G‑d, want to bless his older son, the one who abandoned the tents of study and who spent his time out in the field leading a hunter’s lifestyle...

I myself am lucky to be alive. I remember going to pay a house visit on a family in my congregation and being attacked by their young son who had an AK-47

Do we have the power to change our own lives? Or are we entirely the product of our environment? A timely lesson from Rebecca.

Hi, my name is Esav. (Some English speakers pronounce it Esau, mangling it to rhyme with “seesaw,” but I prefer my proper Hebrew name, ending with a “v.”) You may have heard some things about me, but you’re probably missing most of the details. I want to ...