<HTML>I am curious as to how we are teaching about Eisav in our yeshiva day
schools and whether schools thoughtfully revisit the account when children
are old enough to think for themselves about the sibling conflicts and
complex personalities.
Indeed, my fourth and second graders have equally been taught that Eisav
was a "Rasha" and I recall from my own yeshiva day and high school years
that this label and portrayal was never looked at more critically. In fact
according to a straight reading of Pshaat, Eisav did nothing to warrant
him being forever labeled in this way. He did not value the Bechora and
must have had violent tendencies to have caused Rivka (and Yitzchak) to
take his threats seriously, but in the end he welcomes and makes peace
with Yaakov, and of course shows respect for his parents' wishes in terms
of wives.
Why is he portrayed in our yeshiva system the way he is and in such "black
and white terms", and is there an age level at which the account and
character of Eisav should be reviewed? We are very comfortable with
explaining the flaws of our Avot precisely to enhance their ability to be
role models for us. On another level, are we not concerned about the
attitudinal messages that we are inculcating by lumping Eisav and his
descendants in the "evil" camp?
Debbie Niderberg</HTML>
