The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.
R' Frand noted that both this week's parsha and Parshas Noach begin with almost identical words (the only difference being a vuv before the Eileh in Toldos). So why is it that we call Noach by his name and this week's parsha is called Toldos?
R' Frand answered by quoting the sefer L'Romeim who explains that the Avos lived their lives to teach their children and give them guidance in Derech HaEmes. He noted that the pasuk in Lech Lecha in which Hashem states כִּ֣י יְדַעְתִּ֗יו לְמַ֩עַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אַֽחֲרָ֔יו (Bereishis 18:19) - Rashi explains that Hashem is using language showing Chiba - why do I love Avraham? Because he teaches his chilldren to following Derech Hashem.
In contrast, Noach made no lasting impact on his generation and had no legacy among his descendants. Therefore his parsha is named after him, because there is no mesorah. However, because Yitzchak did teach his children and had a lasting impression, the parsha is called Toldos.
R' Frand linked this to a vort by the Alter Zedeh (R' Elya Lopian) who notes that the pasuk in Shma (Devarim 11:19) - וְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֨ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ - begins plural and ends singular. Why? Because it demonstrates that if you want to teach your children to follow the Torah, you need to show them that you follow it when sitting at home, travelling on the road, etc.
R' Frand said a second vort which began with a reference to Parshas Vayeitzei, wherein Rachel approaches Ya'akov and asks him to pray for her to have a child, to which he responds, הֲתַ֤חַת אֱלֹהִים֙ אָנֹ֔כִי? (Bereishis 30:1-2). Rashi there explains that Rachel said - your father prayed for your mother to have children (in this week's parsha) can't you pray for me? To this he responds - its different, there he had no children, but I already have children from my other wives. How can this be viewed as anything but callous?
To answer the question, R' Frand told two stories. The first involved a man who had been married seven years and had no children. He had been to doctors, rabbanim, mekubalim, but was still childless. He was told to see R' Dovid Abuchatzeira. So he took a bus and got there at 11 AM and was told by the assistant to wait his turn. He sat with a gemara, but by 2 had still not been seen. He asked and was told it was not his turn. He waited until 9 PM and saw many people who had arrived after him being given entry. He was then told that he would have to come back another day. The man had enough and walked out and sat on a bench and cried to Hashem. The assistant approached and said - maybe I can try to get you in now, but the man was not interested. As he was about to leave the assistant came to him again and said R' Dovid wants to see you now. He came in and R' Dovid said - why are you here, you have been answered already?
R' Frand tied this cryptic statement to a potentially apocryphal story about the Kotsker Rebbi. One day his sister came to him and begged him to daven for her. He told her that he could not do so. She went out the door and wept and said aloud - Hashem, even my brother won't help me, I have only you to rely on. The Kotsker opened the door and embraced his sister and said - that was what I was waiting for.
This is why R' Dovid said - you have already been answered - and 1 year later they were blessed with a baby boy!
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