Perashat Toledot: The Story of Yishaq

By: Jeffrey Dweck

The word “toledot” is not unique to this week’s perasha. In fact, it’s not the first mention of
the term in the perasha, and not even the only mention of the term in its vicinity. In the
creation chapters, we read “These are the toledot of the heavens and the earth,” and of
“sefer toledot Adam.” We read later “These are the toledot of Noah,” a perasha that
names itself after Noah, and not the term “toledot.” We read about “toledot benei Noah,”
“toledot Shem,” “toledot Terah” and toledot Yishmael,” and even “toledot Moshe and
Aharon” in Sefer B’midbar. This week’s perasha goes out of its way to begin at a break in
Perek 25 with this particular occasion of “toledot.”

What’s more, this week features a very unique biography – that of Yishaq. It’s unique
because at one single chapter, it falls far shorter than that of Abraham and Yaacob, a
combined 20 chapters between them. The “biography” doesn’t even open with Yishaq – it
open with his father Abraham and the key word toledot. (Most biographies in the text end
with toledot. The Rashbam and Sforno use this as an opportunity to derive that Yishaq is
the only real successor to Abraham and the covenant of G-d. But the emphasis remains
on Abraham.

Perek 26 describes Yishaq’s relations with his neighboring Pelishtim, and how Yishaq is
instructed to handle a second famine. G-d uses the circumstance to restate his covenant
with Abraham and commands Yishaq to stay in the land of Israel, “…fulfilling the oath that
I swore to your father Abraham; … I will make your heirs as numerous as the stars of
heaven, and assign to your heirs all these lands, so that all the nations of the earth shall
bless themselves by your heirs.” Why? “…All this is because Abraham obeyed My voice
and kept … my commandments, My decrees and My laws.” Once again, the emphasis is
on Abraham.

Even more than this express mention of Abraham, the entire Perek parallels, the Abraham
story of Perek 21, point for point. The similarities are more than coincidental.

Thus, the biography of Yishaq is very much the biography of Abraham. A son following his
father’s way. Yaacob struggles for his father’s blessing. Yaacob’s sons punish him with
the consequences of sibling rivalry. Jealousy and rivalry prevail in later generations. But
all seems well with Yishaq – he is prosperous, he receives the divine message, his
prayers are answered, and he fathers great nations.

The message of the perasha is “V’Eleh Toledot.” These are the Generations. This is how
every generation is to carry on. This particular “toledot” isn’t particular at all. It is the
model for all toledot. Abraham was favored by G-d and chosen for one reason only:
“…because he commands his children and his household after him, that/and they
preserve the way of G-d, doing charity and justice…” Abraham commanded his family to
preserve (“Shomer”) His way. Yishaq was faithful to that charge.