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There were two patriarchs who each "inherited" his status from his illustrious father. Yitzchak was promised his central role in receiving the protection, blessings, and responsibilities of a covenant with Hashem "because of your father, Avraham" (see Bereishit 26:24).Yitzchak received his father’s blessing, enabling his success, as we read in this week’s parasha. But neither result was taken for granted.
Avraham was reluctant at best to choose one son (Yitzchak) over another (Yishmael) (see Bereishit 21:10-11). Hashem got involved directly, instructing Avraham to put his clear priority on Yitzchak (ibid. 12), a lesson which we see later Avraham fully internalized (see ibid. 25:5-6). Yitzchak emerged victorious without having to do anything. On the other hand, there was also an apparent threat to Yitzchak’s very existence. Avraham was commanded to place him on an altar as a human sacrifice, only for that commandment to be clarified to mean that he should place him but not slaughter him. In this context, Yitzchak was called upon to play a crucial, even if physically passive, role. He allowed his father to proceed and prepare to kill him without so much as a protest or complaint. This great event solidified the status and provided unparalleled merit not only to Avraham but to Yitzchak and through each, to their descendants.
Yaakov’s status in the legacy of his forebears was very much in question, with Yitzchak deciding to give a prominent beracha to Eisav. Here, Hashem did not directly intervene. Rather, his mother had to devise a difficult plan, and Yaakov had to (reluctantly) carry it out without explicit divine command but based on parental leadership which stretched the moral imagination, at apparent peril (see ibid. 27:12). (Of course, Hashem brought the success "behind the scenes.") In contrast, when it came to physical survival, Yaakov was endangered by two relatives who had plans of harming him, Lavan and Eisav. In this case, Yaakov was not morally tested, like Yitzchak had been. He "got into trouble" by following Hashem’s directive to return to his father’s home at the time and in the manner that Hashem prescribed, and Hashem warned Lavan (ibid. 31:24) and changed the sentiment of Eisav.
So, in this way too, we see the patriarchs, as harbingers of the future of generations of offspring to follow the proper precedents. It is not simple to survive, and it is not simple to thrive spiritually. No amount of human initiative will succeed without the good will of Hashem, and His assistance will always be necessary. On the other hand, we will not be in the situation to receive Hashem’s full grace without some level of proper action. Our nation is, by divine design, built on role models who emerged successful because of a combination of their greatness and willingness to sacrifice and stand up and do the right thing, along with unique Divine Providence.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
