Esau

Esau was the twin of Jacob, but his polar opposite in many respects. Read this article to learn more about him.

Hi, my name is Esav. (Some English speakers pronounce it Esau, mangling it to rhyme with “seesaw,” but I prefer my proper Hebrew name, ending with a “v.”) You may have heard some things about me, but you’re probably missing most of the details. I want to ...

Jacob's nemesis and a figure shrouded in controversy—what do you know about Esau?

The Kabbalists see Esau and Jacob as the embodiments of the primordial world of Tohu (“Chaos”) and our present reality-process of Tikkun (“correction”)

Ishmael's mother was the Egyptian Hagar, while Isaac was born to the righteous Sarah. But Jacob and Esau were twins; what explain their divergent characters?

Jacob hid his daughter from the wicked Esau. But did Dinah actually have the power to make Esau repent? Based on the commentary of Rashi on the verse (Genesis 32:23) "And [Jacob] arose during that night, and he took his two wives and his two maidservants ...

Jacob and Essau, born as identical twins went on to lead polar opposite lives. How did they become so different? A lesson in understating our own potential with regard to our personal life circumstances.

Esau married his uncle Ishmael's daughter Machalat. Was Machalat righteous or wicked? Scripture gives us evidence to argue both ways.

A child shouldn’t be expected to be a miniature replica of his parent. Individual character traits need to be honed and channeled.

Esau is born red and as hairy as an adult, and so he remains—red, intense, driven, violent. Jacob is born with his issues as well. Timid, a bookworm, Mama’s boy. Yet he is willing to acknowledge and confront Esau...