Monday, October 29, 2012
Parshat Vayera
Bereshit 18:1 – 23:24
18 Cheshvan 5772 / Nov. 2-3, 2012
Bereshit 18:1 – 23:24
18 Cheshvan 5772 / Nov. 2-3, 2012
Saying NO to
God
by Zvi Bellin, MHHQ
by Zvi Bellin, MHHQ
How do we begin to understand the
story of the binding of Isaac (Akedat Itzhak)? To imagine that Avraham
had the “faith” to kill his son is simply terrifying. I get a chill when I read
the verse (22:10), “Avraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to
slaughter his son.” Was he really
planning to kill his son? Was Isaac really just able to hop on an alter to be
bound and killed by his father? These questions have been occupying the minds
of Torah scholars forever! Some say that
child sacrifice was a common practice back then and that this story displays a
defining moment in monotheistic religions. Some say that Avraham actually
killed Isaac, and then God brought him back to life! There are so many ways of
reading this story and I would like to introduce the idea that in this story,
Avraham learned to say NO to God.
When Avraham gets the command to
kill his son (22:2) it contains the now familiar phrase: Lech-Lecha (simply
translated as, “Go!”). This is the same phrase that Avraham perceived when God
told him to leave his father’s house and take his family to Canaan. Perhaps
Avraham heard this commandment as a continuation of his original journey. He showed
faith in leaving all that he knew behind him and so he will show faith in
offering his son to God.
In the plain text reading, as
Avraham was about to slit his son’s throat, an angel beckoned from heaven to stay
his hand (22:12), “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad nor do anything
to him…” I really hope that Avraham’s greatness was NOT in hearing the commandment
to kill Isaac, but in his ability to hear this opposing call.
Our past actions set up our present
behavior. And it is very easy to make choices simply on past decisions. Why
vote for one party over another? Because my family votes for this party! Why don’t
you like a certain food? Because I tried it once didn’t like it. We can become
enslaved by our past and give up our freedom to act authentically in a fresh
new moment!
This week we have the opportunity to
consider our path through decision making. Do you rely so heavily on your past
and so ignore critical new information that is presenting itself to you? Or the
opposite, do you immerse yourself so fully into the present moment that you
fail to consider the effort that has been put in by others that came before
you? How can you be more balanced in your decision making?
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