HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a special address:
With the permission of our great master, with permission of the rabbonim, roshei yeshivos and this holy audience:
We read in the Torah today about the disagreement of opinion between Yitzchok and Rivka regarding the parental blessings — whether they be granted to Yaakov or to Eisov.
The commentators explain this as follows: What did Yitzchok have in mind? He surely knew that Yaakov was the deserving one but he wanted to include Eisov in the picture as well, envisioning a kind of partnership. He wanted all of Yaakov's descendants to be immersed in Torah, mitzvos and holiness, the possibility of which would be provided by Eisov through a division of responsibilities.
Yitzchok wanted Eisov to have a share in the building of the Jewish people but Rivka was against this, not that she feared that Eisov would not play his part but because of a deeper reason. She thought that Eisov could surely provide the means, but in what manner, with which motivation? Would it be a positive thing at all? How would it be given? She had deep misgivings about such a partnership.
He elaborated on this idea by comparing it to the subject of Elisha ben Avuya, maintaining that the primary part of Torah support should be for the pure sake of Torah, adding,
We have gathered here to maintain a partnership of Klal Yisroel as Rivka envisioned it that the one who provides the wherewithal would not be through Eisov but by Jewry itself since this money would not be given for ulterior purposed but for its pure sake out of good will and the appreciation of what such giving represented.
The public gathered here is one that understands and appreciates the purpose of giving purely for the sake of giving to this cause, part of which is represented by giving as much as possible and giving it willingly and over generously. Hashem will accordingly bless each one individually with success, precisely because it represents a bonding with Torah by virtue of the very act of giving so that the outcome, the result, will be far more beneficial than its onset.
Hashem will confer blessing and success to you in all the areas of life - with good health, nachas from your offspring and in everything. May there emerge from this gathering tonight, a tremendous degree of Heavenly honor which will hasten the Geula, speedily and in our times. Amen.
