ויגדלו הנערים ויהי עשו איש יודע ציד איש שדה ויעקב איש תם יושב אהלים

“And the youths grew up, and Eisav was a hunter, a man of the field; and Yakov was a wholesome person who sat in the tents.” (Bereishis 25:27)

We know that Yakov and Eisav fought over the status of firstborn. Being the firstborn entitles the son to a double share of his father’s inheritance. The reason why a firstborn receives a double portion of the inheritance is because, as the oldest, he usually sets the tone and direction of the home, leading his younger brothers along the path he chooses. Since he plays an important role in guiding his younger siblings, he is entitled to a larger share of the inheritance.

Eisav was Yitzchok’s firstborn. He was older than Yakov and it would have been natural for Yakov to become influenced by him. Eisav became a man of the field who occupied himself with hunting animals. What gave Yakov the strength to choose a different path in life? How did Yakov remain completely unaffected by Eisav’s behavior?

The holy Zohar discusses the significance of the present time of the year - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succos. During this time, the Satan, who is called Eisav, does everything in his power to harm Klal Yisroel, who are called Yakov. What protection does Klal Yisroel/Yakov have from the Satan’s onslaught? The Zohar cites the verse “And Yakov traveled to Succos,” explaining that Yakov hides in his succah, which protects him from Eisav.

Klal Yisroel’s escape from Satan’s influence is a replay of what took place in real life between the twin brothers. When Yakov saw Eisav’s behavior, he knew he had to protect himself. What did he do? He ran to the tents of Shem and Eber and studied Torah with them. Torah was his protection and that is what helped him steer clear of Eisav’s lifestyle.

Every year, we are fortunate to have the protective power of the succah that the Zohar speaks about. The succah is the greatest segulah and most wonderful protection against the raging nisyonos that threaten to engulf us. Eisav was the son of the righteous Yitzchok and Rivkah, and the grandson of Avrohom and Sarah. And still, despite the holiness of the home he grew up in, he turned away from Hashem. Yakov took this as a lesson not to rely on his home or his ancestors, but to fight for his spiritual survival. He chose to study Torah in the tents, and this enabled him to grow up as the great Patriarch he became.

We too must learn from Yakov not to rely on our homes and our upbringing. The yetzer hara is working hard to ensnare us, and we must fight for our spiritual survival. One of the most powerful forms of protection is the succah, as it says in Tehillim (27:5): “Because He will hide me in His succah on the day of evil.” When difficult nisyonos threaten us, Hashem takes us into His succah and hides us out. This means that by incorporating the lessons of faith that the succah teaches us, and by basking in Hashem’s presence which is found in every Jew’s succah, we become spiritually fortified to overcome the difficult challenges we face.

May we be saved from the nisyonos of our times and of all hardships, and may all of Klal Yisroel merit following the ways of our holy Avos, so that we may greet Moshiach with joy, Amen.