The Torah makes a point of telling us that Yaakov and Esav were twins. Yet we find major differences between them. One is a man of peace, the other is a murderer.
One wishes this world, the other Olam Haba. How do we reconcile the seemingly contradicting references?
Rav Yitzchak Hutner points out that the two goats that are offered on Yom Kippur are drastically different. One is brought as a korban by the kohen gadol, while the other is sent crashing over the cliff. Yet, he says the Gemara tells us that they must be exactly the same in height and appearance. Even if there is a difference in one hair color, they may not be used!
He explains this rule as follows. Two things that are clearly different are only different externally. When two things are really different they are different in their core and the only way to see this deep difference is to strip away all the surface differences. The Torah insists that the goats be exactly the same, so when their core difference is exposed it will be obvious
to all.
Yaakov and Esav are different at the core, and this difference became clear in their lifetime and throughout history. Esav's descendants became murderers, barbarians and sadists and torturers all in the name of religion. He is compared to the pig who shows you his split hooves and says "look I am kosher," but inside at his core we know his real self. The Kotzker Rebbe used to point out how the Torah shows us the difference between a Jew
and a goy. There were two people in the Torah that had a heavenly dream- Yaakov and Pharoah. Yaakov dreams of the ladder ascending to the heavens. He wakes and says, This is a holy place and brings a sacrifice to Hashem. Pharoah on the other hand has a dream where he sees the future of Mitzrayim and his reaction is to go back to sleep.
Deep at the core every Jew, regardless of his appearance or exterior, wants kedusha, because at his core he is a son of Yaakov, while the "friendly goy" may appear to desire holiness, but at his core he is a son of Esav.
Bracha Vehatzlacha
Ephraim Weingot
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