Problems with Jacob’s ‘decisions’ By Barry Landy
In December we read the last of the wonderful "winter Sidrot" with all their stories, but before we finally leave them for this year I want to reflect on some aspects of the story of Jacob, and one part of it in particular. If we look at the story with a critical eye, we see that in the early part of his life Jacob is a very forceful character, but that almost every decision he makes seems to have negative consequences. The very first instance is Bereshit 24, 29-34, when Esau returns home from the hunt starving hungry and Jacob sells him some lentil stew for his birthright. The result of this was that Esau hated Jacob; not one might think a very good exchange.
Above: Esau Selling His Birthright, c. 1627, by Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588–1629)
The next story is Bereshit 26 (a long time later): Isaac is old and cannot see; he asks Esau to get him some venison and he goes out to hunt. At his mother's urging Jacob goes to Isaac with some venison stew and convinces him that he is Esau quickly back from the hunt. By this means Jacob gets from
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