> כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרְכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃
> When Eisov heard his father’s words, he wailed a most loud and bitter cry, and he said to his father, Bless me too, my father.
> (Berashis 27:34)
Esav's crying was not the only expression of grief in Tanach. A few centuries later Moredchai does the same when he discovers the decree that Haman makes to destroy the Jews. (Esther 4:1). Chazal in Berashis Rabbah says the similarity of language shows Haman's decree was in retribution for Yaakov's actions toward Esav in taking Yitzchak's bracha.
Rav Henoch Leibowitz asks, what exactly did Yaakov do wrong? He had rightfully bought the bracha from Esav. He wasn't stealing from Esav, he was taking what legally belonged to him.
Perhaps the fault wasn't in Yaakov's motive, but in his action. That wasn't the case either because Yaakov wasn't drive by the desire for glory or greed. He realized Esav wasn't worthy of the birthright or the bracha. It would have been a disgrace for Esav to have either of those. Furthermore Yaakov's mother, Rivkah, saw via prophecy the bracha belonged to Yaakov. She all but physically forced him to enter his father's test to receive the bracha (see the Berashis Rabbah 65:15). We see Yaakov wasn't motivated by a personal agenda but by a holy mission; to rescue the bracha from his unworthy brother.
If this is the case, what was Yaakov held accountable for Esav's suffering? Rav Henoch's father Rav Dovid Leibowitz, the founder of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim explained that Yaakov was not punished for the pain the caused Esav. Rather he was punished for an infinitesimal shortcoming in not feeling sufficiently anguished that Esav had to suffer. It was impossible for Esav to keep the bechorah. However, Yaakov should have empathized to a greater degree with Esav's troubles. We can be sure he shed tears for Esav, and they were sincere, in Heaven those tears were examined and perhaps there were not enough of them or maybe they didn't flow from the deepest part of his soul. It was this minuscule lack of brotherly love that the Jews of Shushan were taken to task many years later.
We see from here the lofty level of ahavah the Torah demands for us to have for our fellow man. Even though Esav was a liar and a murderer Yaakov was required to feel Esav's pain over the loss of a birthright he sold for a bowl of lentils. Somehow this, and more, were expected from Yaakov.
All Jews regardless of if we feel they are worthy, deserve our love and our empathy with their pain. We may never reach the level of Yaakov Avinu we still have the obligation, within our capabilities, to live up to the Torah's standards and strive toward the goal of enhancing our love for and heighten our sensitivity for our fellow man.
