Parshat Toldot: Who Do You Vote For?

Here we are, after the Israeli Knesset and U.S. midterm elections, and there are many happy people! Liberals, progressives, leftists, and others who are highly critical of Israel are celebrating. But there are also many people who are deeply disturbed and unhappy with the election outcomes, both in Eretz Yisrael and America.

In Eretz Yisrael, allegations of foreign funding and election interference have raised serious concerns. Some feel those concerns are already being swept under the rug, even as the investigation continues. Neither the right nor the left secured a majority, leaving much confusion and many ideas being thrown around about forming a new government.

In America, the “blue wave” has given Democrats control of both houses of Congress, including victories by representatives whose positions on Israel trouble many Jewish voters. For many people concerned about the future of Torah in Eretz Yisrael and support for Israel in America, it’s a gloomy picture indeed!

The Chofetz Chaim is quoted as explaining why democracy became so widespread during the past century. Even the most communist, autocratic, and tyrannical governments have elections of some sort. Sometimes opposition figures “happen” to fall out of windows, suffer unexplained poisoning, or wind up in prison. Or sometimes, the leader is so amazing that they receive 100 percent of the vote! But elections are widespread. Why?

He explained that everyone, in a private or public way, shows which side they are voting for. That shows what they truly believe. They won’t be able to excuse themselves by blaming things on the decision of a king or officer, saying, “I was forced to follow.” Oh no, you voted. You chose!

Now, perhaps there are situations when people or groups claim that their votes really make a difference, and they try to benefit from it. But when you have elections involving people who are closer to a Torah view, or chas v’shalom, against the Torah, who did you vote for?

Especially in Eretz Yisrael, where the distinction between pro-Torah and anti-Torah parties is often a major campaign issue (and it’s usually unclear how the coalition will be formed), it really shows whether you voted for Hashem or against Him. For talmidei chachamim, or against them.

Perhaps this is one reason why we’ve had so many elections in the recent past, specifically in Eretz Yisrael, where being pro-Torah or pro-secular is such a major factor. And even after nearly four years of right-wing-led government in Israel, there has been tremendous persecution of the lomdei Torah. So right-wing doesn’t necessarily mean pro-Torah.

But how can so many people support candidates whose positions seem sympathetic to Hamas or other enemies of klal Yisrael? And how can the radical left and radical Islamists join forces when they disagree about almost everything else? Aren’t they complete opposites?

We’ll try to explain from here.

At the end of Parshat Toldot, after Yaakov Avinu left Yitzchak’s house, Eisav went and married Yishmael’s daughter, Machalat. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 67:13) says that her name, Machalat, is connected to mochel — forgiveness — because a person’s sins are forgiven when they marry. That’s what Eisav wanted. He had good intentions! But then he didn’t divorce his first wives, and Eisav and Yishmael became connected to rebel against Hashem.

Then there’s an earlier Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 67:8). As explained by the Eitz Yosef and other mefarshim, Eisav said, “I’ll go to Yishmael and tell him, ‘We were both cheated by our brothers. Let’s join forces, and I’ll kill Yaakov, you’ll kill Yitzchak, and we’ll split the world between us!’ Then I’ll kill Yishmael as the go’el hadam — a blood avenger — avenging my father’s death and taking the entire world for myself!”

Afterward, Hashem would confront Eisav over it, and Eisav would deny it! “I never said any of that!” But Hashem would respond, “I know the deepest secrets of your heart.”

How do these Midrashim fit together? Did Eisav have good intentions or not? Didn’t Yishmael do teshuvah before Avraham’s death, and then rebel again? What’s going on?

We would like to explain that the Midrashim are revealing Eisav’s real intentions. He never discussed his plans with Yishmael and never actually made plans to kill anybody. After losing the berachot from Yitzchak, Eisav really wanted to change. He approached Yishmael, asking for help. By marrying Machalat, he figured that Yishmael, being the powerful family leader, would keep him in line.

Yishmael was hesitant, not sure whether Eisav would really remain a ba’al teshuvah. On the surface, it seemed that Eisav could do it.

But there was something much deeper going on.

Really, Eisav wanted to create something new. A simpler way to serve Hashem, without all the demands of the Avot. Serving Hashem, but on his own terms! We can see something of that same approach in Christianity and Islam, which emerged much later.

It sounded good, but deep down, there was another desire: to take control. If Eisav could establish his own way, he wouldn’t need the Avot and their path!

Then Yishmael died. That’s why the Torah calls Machalat the sister of Nevayot, Yishmael’s oldest son, because Nevayot arranged her marriage to Eisav. Eisav’s teshuvah didn’t last.

Those deeper intentions were something only Hashem could see. That’s why Eisav could respond to Hashem, “I never said any of that!” He might never have said the words, but Hashem knows all the hidden thoughts and intentions.

That bond between Yishmael and Eisav created a legacy that would continue through later generations. Each had certain aspects of Judaism.

We find something interesting when the Torah lists the chiefs of Eisav. The second-to-last chief is Magdiel, whose name includes one of Hashem’s Names. Yishmael had aspects of Judaism as well. Much later, Christianity and Islam each came to contain certain elements of Judaism, but from the Torah’s perspective, they also contain major aspects of tumah.

But their bonding was also their downfall. Their union brought together the worst of their negative midot, which would find their most destructive expression in Amalek. Amalek descended from Eisav through Eliphaz and Timna, but the spiritual qualities we’re discussing came from both Eisav and Yishmael.

One of those traits was a tremendous lack of hakarat hatov — appreciation for the good one receives. Yishmael (and his mother, Hagar) failed to appreciate Sarah’s role in bringing Hagar into Avraham’s household, and Eisav failed to appreciate Yaakov for saving him from Nimrod (as discussed in previous articles). Amalek expanded that lack of hakarat hatov into a radical desire to destroy all kedushah!

Look at what has happened in recent history. The Ottoman Empire, associated with Yishmael, collapsed. Then came the fall of the great European empires, associated with Eisav. Yet the threats against klal Yisrael continue, and the destructive qualities associated with Amalek have certainly not disappeared.

This helps explain how movements that seem completely opposed to one another can sometimes cooperate. Some on the secular left and radical Islamist activists may disagree on almost everything else, yet find common cause in their hostility toward Israel. That’s the kind of alliance we’re seeing today.

At the very end of Parshat Chayei Sarah, the Torah lists the descendants and leaders of Yishmael. The Ba’al HaTurim explains that when Yishmael falls at the end of days, ben David yitzmach — the son of David will sprout.

Sprouting is a process. Something begins beneath the surface, growing gradually until it finally appears. So too, we’re hoping that the many signs we see will lead to the eventual coming of Mashiach, very soon.

Yes, things are confusing. But Chazal already described these struggles long ago! We may not understand how everything fits together, but we know that Hashem is directing it all. Only He knows how and when everything will happen.

But we do know the side we want to be on.

Let’s vote and choose to be on Hashem’s side, the side of the Torah and the talmidei chachamim!

May we be zoche to serve Hashem properly and greet Mashiach very soon!

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R’ Dovi Chaitovsky lives with his family in Eretz Yisrael, where he has the zechut to learn and teach Torah. His divrei Torah often draw from the shiurim of R’ Yisrael Altusky shlit”a of Yeshiva Torah Ore, available on www.KolHalashon.com. In Connecting The Dots: Torah Thoughts For Modern Times, he uses Torah sources, stories, parables, and current events to connect timeless Torah wisdom with contemporary challenges and encourage practical growth.