Beans and birthrights

“How odd of G-d, to choose the Jews,” an antisemite had scrawled on the wall. One of our own responded, “No, not odd, the Jews chose G-d.” 

This week, we read of the birth of twins to Isaac and Rebecca. Jacob and Esau couldn’t have been more different. Jacob is the diligent Torah scholar. Esau is a violent hunter. 

One day, Esau returns from the hunt and finds Jacob cooking a pot of lentils. Esau pleads for the lentils. Jacob proposes a barter arrangement: I will give you the lentils and in return, you give me your birthright. Historically, the first born were chosen to minister in G-d’s temple. Esau accepts the suggestion and the deal is done. 

Yet, when we get to the Book of Exodus, (4,22) when G-d sends Moses to Pharaoh to redeem His people, He describes them as, “My son, My first born, Israel” and Rashi comments, “Here the Holy One Blessed is He affixed His seal to the sale of the birthright which Jacob purchased from Esau.” 

Four generations later? Why did it take G-d so long to put His stamp of approval on a deal that was entered into hundreds of years earlier? 

The Israeli Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe-Zvi Neriya, answered, You can sell your birthright for beans, but you can’t buy a birthright for beans. To throw away one’s holy heritage is easy, but to claim it takes years of effort. 

Like the war hero who earned a row of medals for bravery and courage under fire. Sadly, in his old age he is forced to sell his medals to survive. So, someone else walks into the pawnbroker, buys them, pins them to his chest, and walks down the street, proud as a peacock. But is there any validity to this shameless fraud? This man is no hero. He’s a pathetic fool. 

To wear the esteemed badge of honour of “My Firstborn Israel”, the Jewish people had to be worthy of the honour. It wasn’t enough that their father, Jacob, had purchased the birthright. 

When Jacob bought the birthright from Esau, it was all legal. But did Jacob earn that hallowed title, or was he like the fellow who bought the war medals? But generations later, when his children went through the iron furnace of Egyptian bondage and still, with amazing faith and tenacity, kept their heritage, then they were deemed worthy of the honour of the birthright. 

After the blood, sweat, and tears of slavery does the great Notary on High, the heavenly Commissioner of Oaths, take out that yellowed parchment deed of sale that had been waiting for generations and put His official stamp and the wax seal on that document. And He says, “Now you are worthy of the birthright. Today you are My Son, My Firstborn, Israel.” 

Being Jewish is the birthright of every Jew. But it’s not enough that G-d chose us, we must choose G-d. It’s not good enough that our parents and grandparents were good Jews, or that my zayde was a rabbi or a schochet and my bobba made the world’s best blintzes. What are we doing to earn our stripes? 

You can sell your birthright for beans, but you can’t buy a birthright for beans.