In Parshat Toldot one can learn that Esav is Yitzchak’s favorite child. The Torah says that Yitzchak loved Esav because there was hunting game/food in his mouth. Later on, when Yitzchak feels like he is dying, he sends Esav to go hunt and bring him food before giving him a blessing. What is so special about the food that Esav hunts? It sounds very materialistic but in reality, there is a spiritual reason.

The mitzvah that Esav is known for is the mitzvah of Kibud Av VaEm, respecting/honoring your father and mother. What he was doing when he got his father food from his hunt was fulfilling this mitzvah. The whole action of getting food for his parents and not for himself as well as getting dressed nicer when he came to his fathers’ tent is the mitzvah of Kibud Av VaEm. Yitzchak was a bit blindsided and saw the good in Esav; he saw that he was respectful to him when he brought him the food and that is why he was the favorite. It was not because of the material aspect of the food but because of the spiritual aspect of what bringing food to his parents symbolized. May we all learn from Esav when it comes to the mitzvah of respecting our parents and all become favorites in our parents’ and God’s eyes.

By Shira Sedek