“Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me.” (Bereishis 27:3)

The question that puzzles everyone is “Was Yitzchak really so hungry?” Why was it necessary for him to have food in order to give a blessing?” There are many answers given to this question, and I would like to share with you an approach given by the Chida.

Many of us are reluctant to give someone a blank check, especially after telling the person “Fill it out for what you think is fair.” Should a person actually get such an offer and then when cashing the check is challenged by the account owner, there are times when Beis Din would rule that the check was invalid—even from the time it was first written—because there was a lack of true intent (semichas da’as). Many of us discussed an aspect of this idea regarding the validity of certain contracts during a recent Thursday Night Mishmar. The principle being that when the account owner understands how vulnerable he is making oneself, he doesn’t really want to do things that have no cap on them.

However, there are exceptions to this case in regards to giving a blank check to one’s sons. The concept is based on the understanding that the love of a father to his son is limitless; therefore a father will indeed make such a limitless commitment.

The Chida says, however, that this is perhaps only true in regards to a father with only one son. If a father hastwo sons, so that being generous with one son will limit the amount available to the other son, we then revert to the default position that the acquisition and the check are not valid.

This concept is also applicable to brochos, which are limitless. One would not give an open brocho with no reserve except to one’s own child. However, when giving to one child at the expense of the other, again we revert to the default halacha that it does not work.

To overcome this difficulty, there is another Talmudic approach that the brocho will become effective, and that is by the father gaining benefit from the son at that same time, which brings about an added closeness between the father and son. Therefore, Yitzchak asked that Eisav to provide a meal for him from monies which were not Yitzchak’s. This would bring about an added closeness, which would give the brochos the ability to work.

There is a concept in the world of Mussar attributed to Rav Eliyahu Dessler that the word “ahava” is rooted in the same letters as the Aramean word “hav” which means “to give.” Rav Dessler says that essentially if you would like to work on loving someone, give to him.

If we put these two ideas together, I think we hit upon a way to enhance our commitment to our loved ones. The more we give, the stronger the connection. This connection creates an atmosphere without which giving would be impossible. This is not only true between man and child, or his friend and his neighbor, but is also true in our relationship with Hashem. Though the brochos that Hashem has given to us are never at the expense of someone else, nevertheless the more we “give” (what to us we call “giving”) to Hashem by serving Him properly, the more we create a venue for a free-flow of His blessings unto us.

As we are Yaakov’s direct descendants, we personally receive Yitzchak’s blessings this week. As such, it is worthwhile to try to find some extra “gift of service” to Hashem, in order to receive brochos from Hashem directly. Shabbos is a most opportune time, with so many ways to bolster our relationship with Hashem. Such as: Meaningful zemiros, exciting divrei Torah and extra time in the Beis Medrash.

Shabbos Shalom UMEVORACH.