Vayera is certainly the best-known Torah parshah because of the akedah (the binding of Yitzchak). It is also probably one of the most commented upon.
This is a very confusing passage and one which seems to be in total contradiction with last week’s portion when God promised Abraham that his offspring would be numerous.
‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them’ and He said unto him: ‘So shall thy seed be.’(Bereshit 15:5)
If God made such a promise to Abraham, why is he asking him now to sacrifice his son? If this is baffling for the reader, how much more for Abraham, God’s faithful servant.
Ten centuries apart, two French-born rabbis suggest that the answer lies in God’s request itself.
In fact God never commands Abraham to kill Yitzchak.
“Rashi comments on this verse, pointing out that God never said to slaughter Yitzchak. God did not want Yitzchak’s life to be ended. He wanted Yitzchak to be “raised up”, designating him as an “olah.”. Once he was uplifted, He commanded Avraham to take Yitzchak down.” (Aish)
Marc-Alain Ouaknin notes that the above expression has two meanings:
- Take him up to be an Olah; which is what Abraham understood
- Elevate him
Thus God’s test was not to check whether Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son but whether he was able to understand and question what God expected from him. Indeed this week’s parshah is a timeless invitation never to shut-off our brains but on the contrary to use them, especially when we think we are acting in the name of God.
Leora has written a parshah post on hospitality, complete with a watercolor of Abraham’s tent.
8 Comments
November 11, 2008 at 2:54 pm
It is a difficult section, the akaideh, the idea that Judaism could have any connection at all to child sacrifice.
Thanks for the explanations of these two French rabbis. I especially like: “never to shut-off our brains but on the contrary to use them”
November 11, 2008 at 4:54 pm
The akedah has always been very tough for me to understand.
November 11, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Quite often, those who act in the name of G-d, are acting outside the realm of G-d’s illumination. They interpret how they choose to, and try to force their opinions on others.
November 12, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for the link! And for mentioning the watercolor
.
November 13, 2008 at 9:02 pm
This is a wonderful post, the rabbi’s words and yours too!
November 16, 2008 at 6:09 am
[...] IlaanaDavita writes about Parshat Vayera. [...]
November 16, 2008 at 7:02 pm
After reading this, it hit me that it’s a lot like Chana praying for a child who wouldn’t be “hers.” Yitzchak had a task as did Shmuel.
November 5, 2009 at 8:30 am
[...] Last year’s parshah post: Sacrifice Your Son? [...]