Vayishlach 5771

In this week's parsha, Yakov (Jacob) reunites with his twin brother, Esav (Esau), whose birthright he has stolen. Fearing that Esav still will be angry and unwilling to reconcile, Yakov comes to him bearing gifts. At first Esav refuses the gifts, telling Yakov, "Yesh li rav." (I have plenty.) Yakov urges Esav to accept the gifts. He says, "G-d has favored me, and yesh li kol." (I have everything.)

What does Esav really mean when he says, "Yesh li rav" (I have plenty)? How does Esav's characterization of his possessions differ from Yakov's statement, "Yesh li kol." (I have everything)?

When Esav says he has plenty, he means to say, "I recognize that I have many valuable possessions, but I could always have more!" He is not satisfied with what he has, no matter how much he already has. He looks around him to see what others have and he is jealous. He feels he is entitled to have more. He is never at peace or content; there is always something he longs to acquire. And once he has gotten something, he finds it difficult to part with it, or to give it away.

By contrast, when Yakov says he has everything, he means to say, "Everything I have is a gift from G-d, and G-d has given me everything I need. " Because he perceives of his possessions as gifts from G-d, Yakov is thankful for what he has been given. Moreover, he is more than willing to share his bounty with others.

What a materialistic society we live in today! Esav would be very comfortable here. It's all I-pod, I-phone, I-pad, I want.

How can we keep our children centered in a world obsessed with acquiring the trappings of success? We can begin by teaching them to be grateful, and to be giving.

In Hebrew, Jews are called Yehudim, a word whose root is the Hebrew word for "thanks." Gratitude to G-d is built into Jewish daily practice. We are supposed to thank G-d when we wake up, before and after we eat, when we wear a new item of clothing for the first time, when we hear good news, and even when we hear bad news. This trains us to see that G-d is involved in every aspect of our lives; all that we have or don't have is in His hands because He knows what and how much we need. This makes us feel content with what we have, and we don't covet what we don't have.

Sometimes we are blessed to have more than we need. When G-d puts us in this fortunate situation, He requires something from us in return. He wants us to share our good fortune with others. He expects us to say "yesh li kol" – I have everything, and G-d wants me to share it.