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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
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Rashi explains that Hashem came to inquire about his healing process. According to him, the Divine revelation was just a special form of bikkur cholim. Rashi’s grandson, the Rashbam, says that the Divine revelation was the arrival of the three angels. Ibn Ezra suggests that Avraham received a prophecy at that time, just that the Torah text does not reveal it. The Ramban discusses the approach of the Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim that the visit of three angels was a prophetic vision rather than an actual visit. The Ramban rejects that approach and suggests other angles.
The existence of so many explanations is a sign that there is real difficulty. With the readers’ indulgence, I will introduce an approach that goes hand-in-hand with the presentation of the events’ sequential order. Yitzchak’s birth stretches out over Lech Lecha and Vayeira. Different messages in this context are distinguished from each other, in that in some Hashem is described with His Name according to the attribute of mercy (Hashem) and in others with the Name connected to the attribute of judgment (Elokim). Let us now take a look and analyze each revelation on these grounds.
A. Bereishit 17:1-2 – Hashem appeared to Avraham with the attribute of mercy, when he was 99 years old. The purpose was to present Avraham with a covenant promising him many offspring and charging Avraham to be tamim (unblemished).
B. Ibid. 17:9-14 – This was at the same time period and was done with the attribute of judgment. Again there was a covenant about plentiful offspring, and this time there was a command to fulfill the mitzva of brit mila. At the end, Hashem also revealed that Sarah was to give birth to a son for Avraham, whose name would be Yitzchak.
C. Ibid. 18:10-15 – This revelation uses the Name of mercy, and He repeated that Sarah would bear Avraham a son.
D. Ibid. 18:16 – 19:29 – The revelation with the attribute of mercy was about the destruction of S’dom.
We can now explain based on the concept that Hashem can "speak" in such a complex manner that multiple things are said at one time, but people are unable to absorb it in that manner (see Tehillim 62:12). The general framework is one of mercy, although the covenant is said in a manner that includes both attributes. Mercy is more directly involved in the command to be unblemished. Judgment is connected to the command of doing brit mila, which involves blood, pain, and crying. We posit, then, that the same revelation has different aspects that are recorded in neighboring sections. Therefore, there is no question of what was revealed, as it appears elsewhere.
We finish with another chiddush. The prophecy about the destruction of S’dom was given with the attribute of mercy. Indeed, it was mercy for all the good people whom S’dom abused (see Bereishit 18:20). Similarly, the modern "inheritors" of the Sodomites, the Gazans, acted with such cruelty that their destruction can only be seen as mercy. It is forbidden to be forgiving to the cruel!
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
