In the blog post “Existential Weariness—Could Proper Education have Made a Difference?”, 11/9/15, in light of R. S.R. Hirsch’s comment, we speculated regarding how the course of Jewish history might have been different had Eisav’s interests and abilities been properly engaged when he was young, particularly when he reached adolescence.
Yet based upon a verse in Parashat Toldot, one could reach the contrary conclusion, i.e., that even the most innovative and appropriate educational techniques will not change the course of history, if one accepts the rule that the RaMBaN often invokes in his commentary: “Ma’asei Avot Siman LaBanim” (the deeds of the fathers are precursors and omens with respect to their descendants.) From Yaakov’s Blessing directed clearly at Eisav (as opposed to the earlier one that Yaakov pretending to be Eisav was given), one could conclude that very specific attributes already apparent in Eisav were meant to be fatalistically transmitted to his descendants, that the culture with which Eisav’s biological and spiritual offspring will be associated will reflect the qualities assumed to be inherent within their ancestor, and that down through the years, there would be antagonism between Yaakov’s and Eisav’s progeny: