Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Toledot: The Long-Term Effects of Negative Influences

The Torah in Parashat Toledot tells that Esav married two women, both of whom were idolaters, and these marriages caused great distress to his two righteous parents, Yishak and Ribka. Significantly, the Torah writes that Esav’s wives were a cause of aggravation "to Yishak and Ribka," mentioning Yishak before Ribka. A number of Rabbis understood this to mean that Yishak was more disturbed by these marriages than Ribka was. Yishak grew up in the home of Abraham and Sara, and thus had little exposure to idolatry, whereas Ribka was raised in the home of Betuel, a corrupt idolater. She was accustomed to such beliefs and behavior, and thus although she was a righteous woman and was obviously very distressed by Esav’s choice of wives, her distress was less than that felt by Yishak.

When we consider the chronology of these events, a striking lesson emerges from this insight. Yishak was forty years old when he and Ribka married (25:20), and it was only twenty years later, when he was sixty, that their children, Yaakob and Esav, were born (25:26). Esav got married at the age of forty (26:34), and thus Ribka had been married for sixty years by the time Esav married. Imagine – she had been living with Yishak, a great Sadik, for sixty years, and yet she was still affected, if only infinitesimally, by the influences of her youth. Although she was strong enough to overcome these early influences and become a righteous woman, nevertheless, some effects still lingered. Even after sixty years, she did not completely rid herself of the impact caused by her exposure to idolatry.

This should serve as a stern warning to us, that we must exercise extreme care regarding what we choose to expose ourselves and our children to. It is simply incorrect to say that we won’t be affected, that we can read, see or hear whatever we like without being influenced. Even many years later, the media we expose ourselves to has an impact. None of us can claim that he is greater than Ribka Imenu. And if she was not impervious to the spiritually harmful effects of negative influences, then we are certainly vulnerable – and all the more so. It behooves each and every one of us to limit our exposure to hostile influences as much as possible, so we can continue growing and advancing in our spiritual development, and follow the example of greatness set for us by our righteous Abot and Imahot.


Related Parasha
Parashat Toldot: Hard Work and Effort - 2022 Year
Parashat Toldot: The Effects of Cynicism - 2021 Year
Parashat Toledot- The Intergenerational Bond - 2020 Year
Parashat Toledot: A Child is Always a Child - 2019 Year
Parashat Toldot- The Flourishing of Torah She’be’al Peh - 2018 Year
Parashat Toledot: Understanding the Story of Yishak’s Blessing - 2017 Year
Parashat Toledot: The Obstacle to Parnasa - 2016 Year
Parashat Toledot: Honesty is the Best Policy - 2015 Year
Parashat Toledot: The Cynics - 2014 Year
Parashat Toledot: In Praise of Ribka - 2012 Year
Parashat Toledot: The First Workaholic - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Toldot - 2011 Year
Parashat Toledot- Changing Our Perspective on Prayer - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Toldot - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Toldot - 2009 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Bamidbar- The Enduring Impact of Shabbat
Parashat Behukotai- The Effort and the Result
Parashat Behar- The Effects of Peer Pressure
Parashat Emor- A Torah of Hesed
Parashat Kedoshim- Achieving Holiness
Pesah – The Judgment for Parnasa
Parashat Ahare Mot- Defeating the Enemy of "Hergel"
Parashat Mesora- Commitments Made During Times of Crisis
Parashat Tazria- "Berit Mila"
Parashat Shemini- Feeling Shame for One's Wrongdoing
Parashat Sav- "Miracles and Skeptics"
Parashat Vayikra- "Derech Eretz"
Parashat Pekudei- Public Opinion
Parashat Vayakhel- Shabbat and the Workweek
Parashat Ki Tisa- Judging Favorably
1002 Parashot found