Parshas Toldos - Rav Chaim Kanievsky & Meshech Chochma: Eisav and Lavan - Who Was The Big Lamdan?
The pasuk says that Yaakov gave Eisav "Lechem U'Nizid Adoshim"; bread and lentil stew. Eisav only asked for the lentils why did Yaakov give him bread? Rav Chaim Kanievsky answers that since there is a machlokes in the gemara what bracha to make on beans that were cooked for a long time (either Shehakol or Ha'adama) the best way to avoid any problems is to wash on bread. Therefore Yaakov gave Eisav the bread so he would wash and not worry about which bracha to make.
Rav Elya Man then asked Rav Chaim about a comment he made about the Meshech Chochma that points out from the language in the pasuk in Chayei Sara (23:53-54) that Lavan and his mother did not partake in Rivka's Seudas Eirusin since they were aveilim. To that Rav Chaim responded that Rav Meir Simcha (The Meshech Chochma) turned then into bigger "Lamdanim" than they were. So why did Rav Chaim make Eisav into such a big Lamdan? Rav Chaim answered that Eisav probably learned with his father Yitzchok and therefore was a big lamdan but who would Lavan have learned with?
Rav Chaim was then asked how he could say that Eisav was so concerned about Brachos after coming in from Shefichas Domim, Giluy Aroyos, Kofer Ba'Ikar, etc? Rav Chaim answered that this is not a contradiction. There are many people like that today. (Derech Sicha)
printable version
