Toldot Nov. 18, 2025 - Complexity of Inheritance

Shalom,

I recall a time when my sister, brother and I were spending time at my grandparents home.  This was while my grandfather Seymour, may his memory be for a blessing, was still alive and we were joking around about who would inherit the decorative red glass beads.  You see, these beads dwelled in a decorative glass basket in their living room.  And, a rite of passage in our family was to have played with them as toddlers and youngsters.  Sure, it probably was a bit risky having toddlers play with them, as they were no larger than a tootsie roll, yet my siblings and I, and all of our cousins each had their turn.  When I have been blessed to bring Caleb, my now three year old son, to my grandmother’s home, he, too, has been brought into the Pearlman (my mother’s family) chain of tradition:  Playing with the red glass beads.  

So, as I think about that time when we sat around, half joking, about who would get to inherit this heirloom, it conjures so many family Hannukah parties, Thanksgiving dinners, Pesach Seders and Shabbat dinner memories to my mind.  The beads would be spread across the living room floor strangely occupying us for hours.  With my grandmother’s yahrzeit last week, I thought a lot about her, the glass beads, and what we inherited from my grandparents.  I know for certain that I acquired four of the beads, one for each in my family as a keepsake.  Yet, there are so many gifts passed through the generations, the majority of which are not material in nature, but spiritual in character.  They are lessons taught and models of family, community, and people.

In this week’s Torah portion, we encounter a story that while it is unique to Torah, it is a tale that represents the complexity of inheritance that stretches even to today.  If we have not experienced it ourselves, the strife that can accompany bequests and inheritance is a relatively common occurrence in families.  In parashat Toldot (click here for the full text>>>) we learn the tale of Jacob and Esau.  We are told of how Esau sold his birthright, the blessing of the oldest child, to his brother Jacob in a moment of poor decision making.  The story unfolds when Jacob impersonates his brother Esau and with guile tricks his ailing father Isaac to bless him as the firstborn, an act that Torah tells us cannot be undone.  

While there are countless intricacies to this story and much to be learned, this concept of inheritance is woven throughout the portion.  An illustration of just how difficult this process can be is painted for us as we encounter the decisions of our ancient ancestors.  Perhaps Torah is striving to ensure we undo the tradition of granting more to the eldest son.  Or, it is possible that the text is working to lay out a different strategy to the trickiness of bequests.  Yet, it is also plausible that Torah is simply expressing the timeless reality that the final gifts of one generation to the next will always be full of complexity.  There are no easy answers to the behaviors of Esau spurning his birthright or Jacob’s guile and trickery or Rebecca’s role in this tale.  But, the story can inspire us to ensure we do all we can to ensure our gifts to the next generation are thoughtful and crafted with intention.

Inheritance is part of the family and extended family experience. It is also communal and part of our people’s purpose:  To ensure the future of our story.  Building, creating, and maintaining Jewish communal life demands commitment.  It requires Jewish leaders, professional and communal, and those identifying as Jews to engage, to participate, and to work towards discovering meaning in Jewish rituals and traditions, wrestling with Jewish belief structures and ideas, and feeling connected to a people.  We inherited this ancient wisdom of Judaism and we hold a charge to continue to uncover its potential.  Our congregation and our Tahoe Jewish Community will thrive as we show up, engage, and give of ourselves to craft meaningful shared experiences in our synagogues, with one another, and throughout our beautiful surroundings.

Those in my family with the red glass beads have a great responsibility.  And while I may not physically carry them with me, those memories of using them for dreidel or using them to learn to count will also be part of my family’s inheritance. 

May each of us work each day to craft a legacy that is rich with treasures; may they be treasures of material richness and memory.  May our time with Jewish community be positive, may we see the good and the potential, and may we treasure each and every soul that gives of time, resources, and presence alike.

Shavua Tov,

Rabbi Evon