What prompted Yaakov to continue to protest, in spite of his mother's orders?
Targum Yonasan: His fear of sin.
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 27:8:1:1. What was Rivkah's plan worth, if Yitzchak would discover his deception and curse him?
What symbolism is inherent in the fact that Esav had hair (Sa'ir), whereas Yaakov was smooth (Chalak)?
Bereishis Rabah 65: "Ki Chelek HaSh-m Amo" (Devarim 32:9). R. Levi says, if chaff falls on a bald man, it is easy to remove. A hairy man cannot remove it. If Yisrael gets sullied through Aveiros, Yom Kipur cleanses them; whereas Nochrim do not have this. 1
Maharal #1 (Ohr Chadash, p. 186): Esav absorbed all deficiency 2 or fault, and came out repulsive. Yaakov was then born clean and smooth.
Maharal #2 (Derush l'Shabbos Shuvah, p. 83 3 ): Sin can be defined as a change in, or appendage onto, a person. Yaakov was smooth, and described as "Ish Tam" (25:27) - wholesome and complete, without anything extra or missing. Yaakov was clean of sin by his nature; any sin could only come from outside, due to the Yetzer ha'Ra. Esav was "Sa'ir;" just as hair grows constantly and is never complete, Esav is deficient, and the sin connects to him personally. 4
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Ish Sa'ir' - Ba'al Se'ar (who possesses [much] hair)." What does Rashi mean?
