Parshas Toldos tells of the twin sons of Yitzchak and Rivka: Eisav and Yaakov. The two were competitive from the beginning; they fought when they were still in the womb. The Torah says that Eisav was a hunter, and his body was "hairy," while Yaakov was quiet and smooth-skinned, and preferred to remain in a tent to study. The Torah says that Yitzchak favored Eisav, while Rivka favored Yaakov.
Isaac was old and his eyes had become dim when he was still young. The rabbis explain that when Yitzchak was tied to the altar, and was prepared to be sacrificed, the angels in the heavens were grief stricken, and they cried. Their tears fell to earth and entered the eyes of Yitzchak, injuring them and causing them to be dim. Yitzchak indicated that he wanted to bless his favorite, Eisav, but Rivka helped Yaakov, providing him with animal skins that made it seem that he was "hairy" like Eisav. Then Yaakov went to Yitzchak and told him that he was Eisav. Yitzchak then made the famous statement, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov, but the hands are the hands of Eisav." The rabbis interpret this statement as a prediction for the future: Yaakov would excel through the use of his voice; while Eisav would prosper through the use of his hands.
The blessing was given by Yitzchak to Yaakov, thinking he was Eisav. When Eisav appeared later asking for his blessing, Yitzchak understood that he had blessed Yaakov instead of Eisav. The Torah says that Eisav uttered a "loud and bitter cry of anguish." These words appear in the Book of Esther describing Mordechai's anguish on hearing the decree for the killing of the Jews. The rabbis comment that God does not forget the pain of individuals, even those individuals who are not righteous. Eisav swears that he will take revenge on Yaakov for "stealing" the blessing. Rivka instructs Yaakov to flee his home to escape Eisav's anger, and to go to Charan, to the house of Lavan, her brother. Rivka adds that she doesn't want her son to marry a woman from Canaan.
The next parsha, Vayetzei, tells of Yaakov going to Charan and building a family there.
The Haftorah is from Malachi, one of the "twelve" prophets. In the haftorah, God reiterates that he favored Yaakov and that he was hostile to Eisav. (Malachi, 1:1-2:7)
