Toldot 5782

 The commentators give many reasons for why Yitzchak became blind at the time of blessing Yaakov. Rashi gives a couple of explanations. One is that he became blind from the smoke of the idolatrous offerings given by Esav and his Canaanite wives. A second is when he was about to be slaughtered by Avraham the angels' tears fell into his eyes. 

These are the classic answers given. However, the S'forno explains that Yitzchak became blind due to his lack of discipline towards Esav. He draws the comparison to Eli, the Kohen in the story of Shmuel Hanavi. The posuk notes that his sons weren't righteous children and because of this he lost his sight. The Da'as Zekenim gives another reason in that it was because of Esav's trickery towards Yitzchak. The posuk says that Esav was a hunter and "had a taste for game", "tzayid b'fiv" (25:28), which is why Yitzchak loved him. The Da'as Zekenim explains that this was Esav's way of "bribing" Yitzchak and convincing him that he was righteous. As we learn in Parshas Mishpatim, bribes blind the upright. 

Toldot 5776

A Medresh asks why are there a short few psukim jotted in at the end of the parsha about Eisav. The Medresh explains that the psukim describe how Eisav took one of Yishmael's daughters as his wife, a few dvarim and that's the whole story. Meanwhile when Yaakov takes a wife, we get into the whole bubba meisa, perek after perek on ever detail of why and how everything happened. The Medresh comes to tell us that this is one of many shiduch lesson of the Torah. Some Shiduchim are as simple as Eisav and his two pesukim while some have to experience the Yaakov of Shiduchim where it becomes an expanded tale.

Toldot 5775

At the very end of the parsha, the posuk mentions that Rivkah is the mother of Yaakov and Esav. If this is something we have known since the beginning of the parsha, why is the posuk repeating it? Rashi notes that he doesn't know what this is coming to teach. Some commentators explain that Rashi did not like the possible answers given. My rebbe R' Shmulewitz explains that Rashi is teaching us a valuable lesson: It is ok not to know an answer. One should not be embarrassed to admit a lack of knowledge. This creates a sense of humility within a person and encourages him/her to seek the truth.

Toldot 5774

The Ramban writes that the three wells that Yitzchak dug represent the three Temples. The first two wells, named Eisek (oppression) and Sitnah (hatred), represent the first two Temples that were destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans respectively. In both time periods, the Jews were oppressed and hated by their enemies to the point where it destroyed the Temples. The third well, Rechovot (lit. roads), represents the third Temple which will be built without oppression or hatred.

Toldot 5773

The Kli Yakar explains the love Yitzchak had for Esav and bases his pshat off of a mishnah in pirkei avos (5:16): Love that is dependent on certain outside factors doesn't last; once the factors disappear, so too does the love. Yitzchak only loved Esav at the very moment Esav fed him. Once he finished eating, his love for Esav disappeared. This is unlike Rivkah's love for Yaakov which had no outside reason attached to it, and "a love like this doesn't disappear."

Toldot 5772

As Rivkah plans to disguise Yaakov in order to receive a bracha from Yitzchak, Yaakov raises the issue that maybe Yitzchak will feel him and realize that it's not Esav he's talking to. The Gra points out the Hebrew word used here for maybe is "ulai," which connotates hoping that something happens (as opposed to "pen," which is hoping it won't). Why did Yaakov want this to happen? The Gra explains that in order for a bracha to take effect on someone, the one giving the bracha must either look at or place his hands on the receiver of the bracha. Since Yitzchak was blind, the only option was placing his hands. Yaakov wanted the bracha to take effect on him, but he knew it would only if Yitzchak touched him, which is why he was concerned of being caught.