Jacob Donning Esau's Garments
ובענין שלקח ברכת עשו כמ"ש ויקח ברכתך וגם כתיב אנכי עשו בכורך.
Concerning the matter that he took Esau’s blessing, as it is written, “and he took your blessing,” and also it is written, “I am Esau your firstborn.”
The Sefat Emet opens by addressing the troubling question of Jacob’s taking of Esau’s blessing and his statement to Isaac, “I am Esau your firstborn.”
וחלילה ליעקב אע"ה לשקר ולגזול מה שאינו שלו.
Far be it from Jacob, peace be upon him, to lie or to steal what was not his.
The Rebbe affirms Jacob’s righteousness, rejecting any notion that his actions were deceitful in a moral sense.
אבל הענין הוא לפי מ"ש חז"ל לכל אחד יש חלק בג"ע ובגיהנם זכה נוטל חלקו וחלק חבירו כו'.
Rather, the matter is as our sages said: every person has a portion in the Garden of Eden and in Gehenna; if one merits, he takes his own portion and that of his fellow, and so forth.
This teaching provides the spiritual framework: each soul has both potential for holiness and for corruption, and merit determines which portion one truly inherits.
וכענין שנאמר יכין רשע וצדיק ילבש.
As it is said, “The wicked prepares, and the righteous shall wear it.”
The verse illustrates that what the wicked fails to sanctify becomes the garment of the righteous, who completes its purpose.
ובודאי יצחק אע"ה שאהב את עשו ראה חלק המוכן לו בג"ע וזה הפנימיות אהב.
Surely Isaac, peace be upon him, who loved Esau, saw the portion prepared for him in the Garden of Eden, and this inner aspect he loved.
Isaac’s love was not for Esau’s outer deeds but for the hidden divine potential within him, the spiritual portion destined for good.
אך כי לא זכה עשו לתקן א"ע ולקבל זאת החלק המוכן לו ונטלו יעקב ונתלבש באותן המלבושים של עשו.
But since Esau did not merit to rectify himself and to receive that portion prepared for him, Jacob took it and was clothed in those garments of Esau.
Jacob’s taking of the blessing symbolizes his assumption of Esau’s unfulfilled spiritual mission, donning his “garments” — his outer expressions and tasks in the world.
כמ"ש ותקח רבקה את בגדי עשו כו' ותלבש את יעקב כו'.
As it is written, “And Rebecca took the garments of Esau… and she clothed Jacob…”
The literal act of dressing Jacob in Esau’s clothes mirrors the spiritual reality of Jacob taking on Esau’s role and potential.
היינו כנ"ל שזכה ללבוש גם המלבושים המיוחדים לעשו.
That is, as said above, he merited to wear also the garments that were particular to Esau.
Jacob’s merit allowed him to elevate even those aspects of existence that were originally Esau’s domain.
ובאמת היה גם זה לטובת עשו אם היה יודע ומאמין כי ע"י יעקב הי' יכול לחזור ולקבל ע"י את חלקו.
And in truth, this too was for Esau’s benefit, if he had known and believed that through Jacob he could yet return and receive his portion through him.
The Sefat Emet reveals compassion for Esau: Jacob’s taking was not theft but a path for Esau’s eventual redemption through his brother.
[כמ"ש בשם האר"י ז"ל בכוונת שמ"ע ושים חלקנו עמהם ע"ש].
[As is said in the name of the Ari, of blessed memory, regarding the intention in the Amidah prayer: “and place our portion with theirs,” see there.]
This mystical reference supports the idea that souls are interwoven, and one may receive or restore another’s portion through divine unity.
ומצינו שיעקב אע"ה שלח אח"כ לעשו ורצה לתקנו ולקרבו.
And we find that Jacob, peace be upon him, later sent to Esau and sought to repair him and draw him near.
Jacob’s later encounter with Esau was an attempt to bring reconciliation and spiritual restoration.
ועתה שנתלבש בחלקו של עשו למעלה כתיב וירח את ריח בגדיו ואמר אמת אנכי עשו בפנימיות חלק המיוחד לו כמ"ש:
And now that he was clothed in Esau’s portion above, it is written, “And he smelled the scent of his garments,” and he said, “Truly, I am Esau,” in the inner sense of the portion that was particular to him, as has been explained.
Jacob’s words “I am Esau” were true on the inner level: he embodied Esau’s sanctified essence, fulfilling what Esau could not.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that Jacob’s taking of Esau’s blessing was not deceit but a spiritual transfer. Each soul has a portion of holiness; when one fails to realize it, another may elevate it. Jacob, through purity and faith, assumed Esau’s garments and mission, thereby enabling even Esau’s potential redemption.