This week's Torah portion, Toldos, discusses the events in the life of Isaac. It begins with the phrase 'these are the generations of Isaac, son of Abraham", describing what is known as 'yichus' - family lineage and 'pedigree'.

The concept of yichus, and the nepotism which all too often accompanies it, can be seen as a good thing, or a bad thing. It is very frustrating when we see someone who seems to be getting credit for something undeserved, due to their connections or due to their parents' or family status or position. On the other hand, an individual can build on the good deeds or reputation of their parents and grandparents, using this as a basis to strengthen and better themselves.

A great Rabbi once commented that yichus is like a zero. By itself it is nothing, but with a number one in front of it, it becomes a multiplier. We cannot live in the shadow of the previous generations, riding on their coat tails. On the other hand, if we build on their achievements and their legacy, it can serve as an enhancement and addition to our own qualities and achievements. The parsha tells us about Isaac's yichus - after all, he was the son of Abraham, a pretty important relation - yet he did not rest on his laurels, basking in his father's glory. This parsha - and those after it - describe the good deeds and achievements of Isaac (and, for that matter, Jacob) in his own right.

There is a story about the cat who wanted her son to have a better life than his parents had had, so she dressed him up in a lion skin, coached him in basic lion history and sent him to join the king of the beasts. The other lions soon noticed something strange about the newcomer, so they asked him "who are you? What are you?" "My father was a lion, my grandfather on my mother's side was also a lion." "But what are YOU?" Eventually he was forced to admit that he was, in fact, a mere domestic cat.

A person could have the greatest ancestors in the world - we all do, after all we are all descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, and many more holy Jews through the ages - yet be achieving nothing in their own right. If we use our potential, we are living up to their legacy. If not, what are we boasting for?

Many people boast proudly that their grandparents or great- grandparents were Rabbis, learned individuals, very pious Jews, so traditional, so devout, and so forth. This is a good claim to be able to make - but what does it really mean to us? Are we going to just talk about them in the past? What use is it if we simply tell our children (or ourselves, for that matter) how traditional and pious the previous generation was, if we are not living up to it? What are we boasting about? Those same parents and grandparents whose traditions and practices we so fondly recall, what is their real legacy? Surely it is more than a mere mention in the family history. We can make it a living, breathing legacy, through our own actions and by passing it on intact to our children.

The previous generations paved the way for us - we can follow in their footsteps, as long as we are placing a one in front of those zeroes.

Shabbat Shalom