Why did Isaac love Esau, when Rebecca had been told by God that the younger son would prevail, while the older son would serve him? According to Rashi and the Magic of Dubnow, Esau knew how to deceive Isaac, letting his father think that he was strictly religious in asking about tithes. This is the classic answer. But Rev Kook presents a more contemporary approach: Knowing that Esau had in fact drifted away from Judaism, Isaac, who loved Esau when he believed Esau to be devout, should love his older son all the more.
