In this week's parsha we read about the birth of Yaakov and Esav. These two twins grew up and took drastically different paths and represented good and evil. Yaakov chose the path of Torah and decency, while Esav pursued the mundane and indecent. The Torah describes the episode in which Esav "sold" his birthright which would have allowed him certain spiritual benefits, for some mere lentils. The verse tells us that Esav "ate, drank, arose, walked (away), and belittled the birthright".

I think this perfectly describes the progression of evil and how it intrudes our way of life. We begin to eat and drink totally permitted acts, but when done improperly can certainly lead to spiritual destruction. Many instances of the spiritual downfall of our People began by eating and drinking in the wrong way or with the wrong crowd.

Once a person eats and drinks they are much more susceptible to sinning. The next stop is that they arise and get up against holiness. The next step is they begin to walk away and leave the path of righteousness until they finally reach the stage where they begin to belittle anything holy and pure.

A person must be careful when they start to eat and drink that they do it properly so it doesn't lead them to the ways of Esav.

May all of our sick brother's and sister's have a speedy recovery.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath