Timeless Torah

Moses began his illustrious career with great reluctance and apprehension. Without a doubt, one of Moses’ concerns was his inability to captivate an audience with the glibness of his tongue. As he explains to G-d, “I am not a man of words.” Nonetheless, the reticent leader who stuttered became quite the orator. Indeed, after forty years pontificating from the pulpit, Moses delivered a speech that lasted thirty-seven days. Amongst the many points contained in Moses’ last words is the blessing he bestows upon his fellow Jews. “May God, the Lord of your fathers, add a thousand fold more like you and bless you, as He spoke to you.” The people, Rashi informs us, were not very happy with the blessing. “Only that and no more?” the nation queried. “Is that the full extent of your blessing? Hashem already blessed us to be ‘like the dust of the earth that is too numerous to count.’” The nonplussed Moses replied, “You will surely receive the blessing Hashem gave you. This is just my own personal blessing added.”
How do we make sense of Moses’ response? In fact, what additional benefit would the Jewish people derive from his blessing if they were already receiving Hashem’s blessing of limitless increase? The Chasam Sofer explains that Moshe was testing them and wondering why did they want children? Was it because children are useful, help with the household chores, and are a source of security in old age? Or is it because each child is a priceless gift from Heaven possessing a spark of the Divine?
So Moses investigated. He blessed them with a thousand fold increase in their population. If they had wanted children merely for their practical worth, they would have said, “Thank you, but that’s more than enough! A thousand might be just a tad too much blessing. How would we use so many efficiently? How would we feed or house them?” But that was not what the Jews answered. They wanted more children. They wanted children “too numerous to count.” Obviously, they were not thinking about their own material and emotional needs, but about the transcendent blessing that each child represents. With this, they proved themselves worthy of Hashem’s infinite blessing.
Generations prior, in the days of Jacob and Eisav, these two conflicting attitudes had already become an issue. The two brothers had agreed to go their separate ways. Eisav was to enjoy the pleasures of this world, leaving Jacob free to pursue the World to Come. Yet when Jacob returned home intent on claiming his rightful due, a confrontation arose. “Whose are these?” Eisav asked upon noticing his brother’s many children. Jacob’s answer was, “These are the children that Hashem graciously gave to your servant.”
The Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer expands the dialogue and reveals the underlying argument. “What are you doing with all these youngsters?” Eisav asked. “What do they have to do with the World to Come? Children are an asset in this world!”
“Not so,” Jacob responded. “The opportunity to raise a child, to develop a Divine soul is a privilege of the highest spiritual worth, a merit that can earn one an honored place in the World to Come.”
Both Jacob and Eisav wanted children, but Eisav viewed them as an extra pair of hands on the farm, or more soldiers to intimidate the enemy. Modern man has supposedly progressed. He has moved off the farm, and wars are now won by superior technology, not more infantry. Not only are a dozen children not helpful, they are a tremendous burden. They are expensive, time consuming and exasperating. Who needs the headache? But what about companionship? No problem. Contemporary man can get a loving dog. Instead of coming home filled with clamoring and demanding children, he can arrive at a clean house complete with an adoring, tail-wagging dog that will run to bring him his slippers and newspaper. This is the attitude of today’s Eisav.
Jacob however, understands that the purpose of children is not for enjoying this world or for making our lives easier. Each one of our kinderlech is unique, representing a spiritual mission, housing a neshama entrusted to our care and guidance. After all, it was we parents who dragged the soul down from Heaven. Should we then not have the responsibility to raise the child in such a manner that it knows how to attain its place the World to Come? And if through that process, we happen to earn our own future reward, is that not an amazing blessing?