Hakol Kol Ya’akov v’Hayadayim Yedei Eisav

Our parasha, Toldot, contains Yitzchak’s celebrated phrase: “Hakol kol Ya’akov v’hayadayim yedei Eisav — The voice is the voice of Ya’akov, but the hands are the hands of Eisav.” (27:22) In his Commentary on the Torah, Rashi, basing himself upon Midrash Tanchuma Buber, asserts “the voice is the voice of Ya’akov” denotes “the voice of Ya’akov who speaks with respect and dignity: ‘Please rise;’ whereas Eisav spoke harshly: ‘Let my father arise’!” In addition, the Torah teaches us that Yitzchak proclaimed, “The hands are the hands of Eisav” in a literal sense, since Isaac had minimal body hair, whereas Eisav was particularly hirsute. As such, Ya’akov was able to present himself to his blind father, Yitzchak, in the guise of Eisav with the successful subterfuge contrived by his mother, Rivka. 

Midrash Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer takes a decidedly different approach in its explication of our pasuk and suggests that kol Ya’akov refers to a profound grasp of the logical underpinnings of the Torah. In stark contrast, v’hayadayim yedei Eisav is representative “in every instance, of murder and all manner of innocent deaths.” Our midrash continues its analysis of our verse and maintains:

“Moreover, when it is declared in the Heavens that ‘the voice is the voice of Ya’akov,’ they [the Ministering Angels] bestir themselves in a riotous cacophony of sounds [of joy.] And when ‘the voice is the voice of Ya’akov’ is proclaimed on earth, all who hear and comprehend [its singular meaning] are inextricably joined to the phrase. [Unfortunately, however,] all those who do not hear and comprehend these words are counted among those whose “hands are the hands of Eisav.”

Prior to encountering this exposition of our verse, we would have thought that Yitzchak’s statement, “the voice is the voice of Ya’akov,” was said but once in history, namely, prior to the bestowal of his bracha upon Ya’akov. Our midrash informs us, however, that it continues to be declared both in Heaven and on earth. By extension, whoever on earth joins the Ministering Angels in their jubilant acceptance of the Torah will be zocheh (merit) to be connected to its holiness forevermore, and they, too, will have the voice of Torah in their hearts, minds and souls.

Midrash Bereishit Rabbah (Vilna) complements Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer on several levels:

“Rav Abba bar Kahana said: ‘There have never been philosophers in the world like Bilam ben Beor and Avnomous HaGardi. [Representatives] of all the nations of the world came to Avnomous and said to him, ‘Tell us how we can join this nation [Israel so that they will become completely assimilated and lose their unique identity].’ He responded: ‘Go and visit their houses of prayer and houses of study. If you find young children proclaiming [Torah verses], you will not be able to join with them [to destroy them]. For this is what their forefather [Yitzchak] promised them and said, ‘hakol kol Ya’akov;’ [this means that] at the time the voice of Ya’akov is found in the synagogues [and proclaimed by young children], then the hands will not be the hands of Eisav [that is, Eisav will be powerless against Ya’akov]. If [the voice of young children is not heard in the houses of prayer, however,] then v’hayadayim yedei Eisav and you will be able to overpower them’.” (Parashat Toldot 65:20)

Rav Abba bar Kahana was a late third century Talmudic sage, yet his words are as relevant today as when they were originally spoken. His thoughts reveal to us the constitutive elements necessary for the continuity of the Jewish people, namely, Torah study by young children accompanied by their innocent voices raised in tefilot to the Almighty. These two mitzvot emerge as the authentic kol Ya’akov that has echoed since the time of the Avot and Emahot until our own historical moment.

When we have this kind of kol Ya’akov we are invincible and stand as one against the Eisav’s of the world, whose hands will surely be weak and unsteady against us. As David HaMelech declared so long ago: “These trust in chariots and these in horses, but we mention the name of the L-rd our G-d. They kneel and fall, but we rise and gain strength. Hashem hoshiya HaMelech ya’aneinu b’yom koreinu — O L-rd, save [us]; may the King answer us on the day we call.” (Sefer Tehillim 20:8-10) May this time come soon and in our days, v’chane yihi ratzon.

Shabbat Shalom and may Hashem in His infinite mercy remove the magafah from klal Yisrael and from all the nations of the world.