By Rabbi Aron Tendler Destiny For A Bowl Of Beans "Rivkah
suffered from the seemingly internal struggle of a schizophrenic
child who could not decide between right and wrong." Parshas
Toldos begins the story of Yakov Avinu and his conflict with
Eisav. To understand their conflict, the background to the
conflict must be understood along with a number of other
questions. Why is it that there are four Imahos - Mothers and
only three Avos - How is it that Yitzchak was fooled by Eisav's
facade of righteousness while Rivkah saw through the chardade?
Why did Yakov, the scholarly, truthful, man of G-d resort to
deceit and conspiracy in order to receive Yitzchak's blessings
and his rightful destiny? Rivkah and Yitzchak's twenty long
years of waiting and praying culminated in Rivkah's pregnancy.
From the moment of conception, the Torah related that the
pregnancy was difficult. Rivkah suffered from the seemingly
internal struggle of a schizophrenic child who could not decide
between right and wrong. At times, the child