Bs”d
Parshas Vayeitzei (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
The brown sheep that Yaakov wanted for himself and not the brown goats may be explained as follows. Sheep we find are symbolic for Klal Yisroel. Rashi explains that “chum” (brown) was reddish (adom). There are characteristics Esav had that in the Divine plan were intended to be harnessed for avodas Hashem. Because Esav misused his free will Yaakov Avinu was now given many of these characteristics to harness and use for perfection. We must be aware that we have within us these qualities and materialistic leanings which likewise must be harnessed for avodas Hashem.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.