_ As I read about Abraham being tested
in my bar mitzvah parsha, Vayeira, I found myself intrigued by the seemingly
minor role played by the 37-year-old Isaac. The entire focus seems to be on the
137-year-old Abraham being tested, but surely Abraham could not have had
success in this test without Isaac’s cooperation. In fact, Rashi suggests that
the phrase “and the two of them went together”—mentioned in 22:6 and then again
in 22:8—indicates that Isaac went along willingly, even once he had figured out
that he was the intended sacrifice. Furthermore, the Midrash explains that the
tight binding of Isaac was done at Isaac’s urging, so that the sacrifice would
not be ruined in any way. Far from running away, Isaac actively embraces this
opportunity to serve Hashem, even when it seems that the ultimate price is
being requested.
In Jewish schools, students learn a great deal about Jewish law and the commandments expected of all of us by Hashem. It would be easy to metaphorically “run away” from this learning, to cover one’s ears and say simply “I know enough; I don’t want to learn more things expected of me!” For example, students already know that they are expected to eat in a Sukkah…why worry about the details of the laws surrounding its construction, especially when their parents are likely to know the laws and construct the Sukkah appropriately? Thus it is especially gratifying when students not only leave their ears open for this new knowledge but actively pursue it. This week some students at YA approached one of the Rabbis to ask about the kashruth of a particular item at QT. While some people would not want the answer to this question—and would possibly tell themselves that the ingredients seem “kosher enough”—these students followed the role of Isaac and embraced the opportunity to make certain they followed Hashem’s will.
I hope that I can follow the wonderful modeling set forth by these students and continue to actively learn about and embrace new mitzvot.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
In Jewish schools, students learn a great deal about Jewish law and the commandments expected of all of us by Hashem. It would be easy to metaphorically “run away” from this learning, to cover one’s ears and say simply “I know enough; I don’t want to learn more things expected of me!” For example, students already know that they are expected to eat in a Sukkah…why worry about the details of the laws surrounding its construction, especially when their parents are likely to know the laws and construct the Sukkah appropriately? Thus it is especially gratifying when students not only leave their ears open for this new knowledge but actively pursue it. This week some students at YA approached one of the Rabbis to ask about the kashruth of a particular item at QT. While some people would not want the answer to this question—and would possibly tell themselves that the ingredients seem “kosher enough”—these students followed the role of Isaac and embraced the opportunity to make certain they followed Hashem’s will.
I hope that I can follow the wonderful modeling set forth by these students and continue to actively learn about and embrace new mitzvot.
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
