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Dear Shalom,
Although I agree in general with Yitzchak Jacobs' advice not to teach Rav
Hirsch's criticism of the way Yitzchak educated Esav to students who do
not yet have proper kavod for the Avot.
However, the general idea of tzaddikim in the Tanach being fallible must
be taught relatively early. Too many of their sins are mentioned in the
text, for us to be able to convince our students that the Tanach 'doesn't
really mean what it seems'. But in a case like ours, where there is no
need to find fault in what a tzaddik did, it's a good idea to postpone
teaching an opinion like Rav Hirsch's until a later stage.
These ideas, le'anyut da'ati, should be taken into account especially when
teaching Ramban on Bereshit, who finds fault in quite a few deeds of the
Avot. Rav Hirsch's opinion is, in general, more moderate. See Amos
Frisch's article, "Shittato shel Rashar Hirsch Besugyat Chet'ai Ha-Avot",
in: Derachim ba-Mikra Uvehora'ato, Bar Ilan University 1997.
Baruch Alster</HTML>
