Vayeira - 7th Portion

Join me as we learn together for the seventh day of the Torah reading of Parases Vira Shabis Parases Vira 22 verse 1. We have so far discussed the nine different challenges that Avram has gone through that God has put him through to be able to see his absolute devotion to Hashem. We are now learning about the 10th and final test that Hashem gives known as the bonding of Isaac. And it was after these words and tested and responded and replied and he said he here I am. I am ready to do what you ask. What does it mean after these words? Rashi explains there are those that are of a rabbis that explain as follows after the words of the Satan the prosecution that he was prosecuting and he was antagonizing and telling God saying from any meal that ate he did not bring before you not one cow or not one ram for a sacrifice. He all did it for himself. So, Hashem responded to the sun. Everything that he did was for his son. Even if I would tell him, bring your son as a sacrifice for me if you wouldn't hold back. That's how great he is. That's why over here God comes to him and after the conversation with the Satan comes to tell what to do next there's others that explain what does this word after these words mean after that he would go and pride himself with the fact that he was 13 years old when he was circumcised and did not protest and meanwhile was an 8 day trial and he had no choice. Oh told him you're trying to threaten me with one limb that you gave up. Even if God would have told me bring your entire self as a sacrifice, I wouldn't hold back. And remember at this point was a much older individual according to some 37 years old. What is the respond? This is the way righteous people respond to the call of God. It's a terminology of humility and a terminology of here I am ready to do it. What does God ask of him to do? Verse two, Hashem tells him take your son, your only sona, the one you love. go to you and go away with him to the land of bring him up there for a offering on one of the mountains that I will designate for you to do. What is the word over here? Please take it is a terminology of request. Please, Hashem says, I beg of you, stand by, meaning pass this test that the creation should not say that the first nine tests were nothing worth. As we know, there's a very famous talk of the Reb that discusses why is it that this test will say the challenge about the first nine tests? If he passed nine tests, why are you gonna say one of them means the first nine are nothing? Because this test challenges the absolute faith of Hashem of Ara and Hashem. The whole time Ara was preaching about monotheism, teaching that God is the one that's right and correct. And over here, God is telling him that the exact same blessing that God told him is going to have his code to self-destructive. Not only that, this actual challenge where he couldn't even make a big splash about it. He was going to do it on a mountain. Nobody will even know. He can't even show that he's believing in God because of it. And over here, this was the ultimate challenge for Ara to be able to this was the ultimate test and show that Ara's absolute belief in God where there was nothing no gain in it for Ara even in his mission in the world of teaching the world about Judaism and monotheism. And because of that, God tells them, if you pass this test, this will prove that the first nine test wasn't for an agenda that you had, but for an absolute purpose of believing in Hashem [snorts] as your son. Hashem doesn't tell him right away, take your son because of a hearer. There was a conversation that was going between the two of them. Omar says have two sons responds to your only son told him this one is only one for his mother this is the only one for his other mother the oneem tells them the one you love responds I love both of them therefore he tells them why didn't he tell him just right out your He shouldn't confuse him suddenly. And therefore, if he suddenly comes onto him and he says, "You have to take your son, he might get all confused because of it, then might not do the right thing." And another reason was to make the mitzvah more loved and cherished by him. That because every single word that's put into the commandment makes the mitzvah even greater. called and give him reward on every one of these statements that God said. The land of tells us where is that? So we find in the book of Chronicles to build the house of God which is Mount Mariah. And our sages explain why was it called Mount Mariah? Because from there comes the teachings and the lessons from to the Jewish people. As we know the Sanhedrin which were the hedraic tribunal sat in the temple mount which was a mount Mariah and therefore was called the place where the teachings to the Jewish people came from the Aramaic translation because there was the place where they brought the incense. Some of the incense was called moia nerd and other incense that were used. And because of that he calls it mount mariah bring him up as an ascent offering meaning does not tell him slaughter him. God had no intent that he should be slaughtered. So therefore if you look at God's words he says bring him as an offering. He doesn't say you have to slaughter him or kill him because God had no intent that he should be slaughtered, just that he should be brought up. Just to bring him up and the moment he put him up there, he told him already to take him down. One of the mountains God doesn't explain and and explicitly say which mountain. God makes the righteous wonder on his words and he doesn't explain it clearly. And only we mentioned previously when it came to identifying that God didn't right away immediately say should be sun. So to over here he doesn't immediately say it should be the sun which mountain. This way he can give them extra reward for every single statement that he says and a mitzvah for itself. So too we find in the beginning of the Torah reading of to the land I will show you and so to he tells them go to you should tell them whatever I tell you there. Verse number three. Got up early in the morning. He saddled his donkey and he took his two young men with him his son. They chopped wood for the offering and they rose and they set out to the place that God has told him. Rashi on verse three came what does it mean he got up early in the morning he was urgent to do the mitzvah that means he was excited about doing the mitzvah and did it early in the morning and didn't delay he himself saddled his own donkey did not tell any of his servants to do so because meaning that when a person loves to do something love changes the uh chain of command meaning something that you may usually do in routine something which is something usual done out of love and passion and excitement you go out of routine in this case because Aram was so excited about doing a mitzvah though he usually would tell the servants to saddle the dunkey but in this case he went out of the ordinary and he went and saddled his own dunkey of who is two lads belar An important person should not travel alone with at least two people. He should always have with him because the reason why you need have two just in case one needs to use the restroom and he won't be there will always be somebody with this important person. So he should not be left alone even for a moment. What does the word mean? The in the Aramaic translation is like splitting like they split through the Jordan and in old French it is the word pindra. So to in this case they were chopping the wood in half. Verse number four and it was the third day [snorts] of raised his eyes and he saw the place from afar. Rashi tells us verse four, why does he tell us this? Why on the third day say why did he only see the mountain only later on? Seemingly he should have seen the mountain even earlier. But the reason was so that the people should not say that he was confused and all of a sudden he got you know lost of where he was doing and his mind went crazy the then therefore he was doing the mitzvah of meaning he wasn't in a lucid mind when he went to bring his son as a sacrifice and if God would have gave him time to think about it wouldn't have done it therefore For the Torah says clearly that he took three days that it wasn't something that he hastily made this idea that he came up with this plan. It was something that he meditated. It was a premeditated idea. He didn't go crazy. He knew exactly what he was doing and he did it because God told him to do it. He saw the place. How did he know what place it was? Was he ever by Mount Mariah before? Where did he know where to go? So Rashi tells us and Kashar he saw that there was a mountain on top of it of on top of the cloud on top of the mountain and the cloud wasn't going away. He knew that this cloud was a symbolism of the divine presence and he knew that this was the place. Verse number five said to his lads, "Young men, you stay here with the donkey and I and the young man," referring to will go over there. We will prostrate ourselves and then we will return to you. Verse 5. What does it mean until the earth a small distance to the place that is before us explains we're going to go see where is the place that God guaranteed that we should go the place that God told me is so too so should be your children. That means how I'm going to see. How is the promise that God said that so will be your children going to happen if God wants me to bring my child as an offering? How did he know he's going to return? Who said they were going to return? This was a prophecy that he said that he's going to return that both of them are going to come back. Verse number six took the wood for the offering and he placed it on his son. And he took with him the fire and the knife and they both went together. Rashi tells us means a knife. Why is it called it sounds like the word from eating and that is correct? Because it comes from the world because if you put a knife to flesh it cuts it and it eats the skin meaning it cuts it in half. the table like it says in the verse in the book of Deuteronomy [clears throat] and my sword is the one that eats the meat and it also prepares and it makes the m the meat appropriate and kosher for food another reason why it's called this type of knife there that was used by the binding of Isaac It feeds. It is called because the future generations of Jewish people eat off that reward. Feed off that reward that was used because of being brought as a sacrifice. They both went together. The Torah appears and together at the same time. Why? Because it teaches that both of them were equally in this plot. who knew that he was about to go and slaughter his own son was going with will and with joy and as well whom as if he didn't know anything about it at the moment that he would be the one that would eventually being brought as a sacrifice as we'll see in the following verses when finds out about it said to his He said, "My father." He says, "Yes, here I am, my son." And he responded to him. He the fire and the wood is here. However, where is the sheep that is going to be used for the offering? And responded to verse number eight. God will see to it that there should be a lamb for a sent offering. And if he does not, then who will be the one? Bene then you, my son, will be that offering. And the two of them walk together with equal enthusiasm even knowing that he would be the one that's going to be brought as an offering. Let's see it in Rashi. He answered him the question in a hinting way. He didn't tell it clearly, you are the offering. He said as follows. God will choose who should be the sheep. Excuse me. And if it happens to be that there is no sheep then you my son will be the send offering continues even though understood that because of this because what are the chances of them finding a little sheep there roaming on top of the mountain he may be very well the one that's going to be slaughtered still in all the Torah repeats and says they went together meaning the leva in an actual equal heart interested in doing and following what Hashem said. Verse N came to the place that God told him as an altar and he set up the wood arranged the wood and he bound his son and he put him on the old term on top of the wood. Rashi and he bound. What does this mean? He tied of his feet and his hands behind him to prepare him for slaughtering. Why? Because the binding of when it comes to binding the word means that you're binding the hands and the feet behind the individual. Later on we find by that he called his sheep because the bottom of their legs were white the place that you would bind the sheep was very noticeable because the color was different. So that's why that kind of sheep he called. Verse 10 sent his hand and he took the knife to slaughter his son. Verse 11. At that moment when a was ready to about to slaughter his son verse love and a angel from heaven called out to Ara and he said Abraham Abraham Abra and said here I am. Why does he repeat his name twice? Abraham Abraham tells us a terminology of affection. that he mentions his name twice that he was calling him in affectionate way telling him that he should not slaughter his child. Verse number 12 and the angel says, "Do not put your hand against an do not raise your hand against the young man. Do nothing to him because now God knows that you actually are fear of God and you did not withhold from your son your son your only son many from me." Let's see what it tells us. some fascinating things that Rashi explains. Why does he tell him don't stretch your out your hand and don't do anything to him? What does it mean don't stretch out your hand to slaughter him? Omar said to God, I came here for no reason. Why should I come up all the way here? Let me just do a little mark, a little scratch, bring out a little blood. So therefore the angel said don't do a thing to him don't even make a blemish now I know Rashi tells usaba says to almighty god I want to tell you what's on my heart yesterday in the past you told me that with the future generations are going to be your children will come from and came about and we're going that means is going to live and have children and then you come along and tell me take your son as a sacrifice now you're coming and telling me don't hurt the child so which one is it I'm getting mixed messages here so God told Yav as follows I have not desecrated my covenant and the words that I say the utterance of my lips I don't change what I said yesterday what I said before my covenant my promise is always there when I told you take your child the utterances of my lips I did not change because if you look in the words that I told you I never told you to slaughter your child this is your own thinking I let it opened. Bring him up. I told you to bring him up and now I'm telling you to take him down. I kept my word when I said that with is going to be the future generations. I also keep my word. I told you to bring him up as a sacrifice and now I'm telling you take him down. [clears throat] Tells us what does this mean? Before this, God didn't know. Now I can respond to the Satan and to the nations of the world who are wondering and don't believe why do I love you so much? I have what to tell them. Now they see that you are a god-fearing man. Verse number 13. Now was not content by the fact of just letting things pass. So therefore God tells him and over here lifts his eyes that there was a horn that was entangled that is or that he was he saw a ram and its horns were entangled in the thicket with its horns and went he took the ram and he brought it up as a scent offering instead of his son. Rashi tells us where did this ram all of a suddenly all of a sudden suddenly appear. So and behold is a ram. What is the word behold? It was there waiting from the time of six days of creation. What does it mean? Another or after. So after the angel told do not send your hand onto the child. Oh saw this ram when it was stuck in the thicket and that's why the Aramaic translation tells us lifted his eyes after the end events according to the happened after all the words and the discussions that he had before um the the events of the discussion that he had with the angel and with the divine presence and after the complaint of that he wanted to make at least a blemish then he saw the ram that he was able to bring as a sacrifice what does the word mean so Rashi translates it's in the thicket of the tree how is it stuck what happens is that the uh ram was running towards the tried tried making it get confused and placing treason in its ways to hold them back from going to be brought as a sacrifice instead of his son [snorts] being that the verse tells us that he brought him up as an offering. The verse is not missing anything meaning that he should have because he could have brought him instead of his son. Why does he have to tell us instead of his son? Meaning we see the subject is following the content is still there. That means he was going to bring his son and now he saw this he was going to bring it the the offering. Why does the Torah have to stress that instead of his son telling us on everything that he was going to do from the ram would say when he would slaughter the ram he would say let this be as if I did it to my son like my son was slaughtered like his blood was sprinkled like I skinned my son like he was brought as a sacrifice and made a dash that means every single action that he did to the ram. It was as if he was doing it to his son. He said, "Let us be as if it was my son." Verse number 14. And then named that site, God will seem since it was said on that day on the God's mountain, he can be seen. Rashi this was the name of the place that's what he was calling the name of the place like the says meaning to say God chose showed him this specific place that this specific place is a place where eventually will be that his divine presence will rest here and to bring sacrifices to Hashem in his honor. This is the place that they will eventually say in future generations. They will say in future generations, on this mountain, God has appeared himself to his nation. God will appear himself to his nation. Today, what does it mean today? It doesn't mean the day that the was written the Torah, but meaning in the future generations until that day. And all the different times that we find this word until the present day all the people that read the verses in the future generations that will say until this current day on the day that they are reading it. The medish explains. What does it mean? Hashem will remember that God will remember to atone for the Jewish people every single year in the day of Yumiperon and to save them from the terrible events. So they should be able to say on this day and all the future generations that on this day God saw or was seen the ash of that was there as a mound that ready to be there for an atonement. Meaning it shall be as if was brought as a sacrifice as ash is there and brought as a sacrifice as an atonement. And for that reason, as we know, we read the binding of Isaac on Rashashana to remind God as it's in the phrases of reminding Hashem of his love that he has for the Jewish people and that Abra had for uh for God that he was ready to bring his son as a sacrifice. And today we include these verses that we just read in the daily prayers in the preliminary prayers before we begin the shakras. We say these verses reminding God and as the prayer that follows it asking God that the same way a was willing to commit his son as a sacrifice. So too God should rem should remember us in our prayers and answer our prayers. The Torah then continues verse 15. And this angel called out to a second time from heaven. And the angel said, "God declares that by myself I swear because you did this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one. Therefore, verse 17, you will be I will bless you and I will increase your blessings and I will increase your offspring like the stars of the heaven and like the sand by the seashore and your descendants will take possession of their enemies cities. This is a double terminology of blessing. One blessing was for the father And one blessing was for the son. And again using a double terminology, one for the father and one for the son. Verse 18. And all nations of the world will be blessed. It's all the nations of the world with your children with your descendants because you have heeded to my voice. Verse 19 returned to his young men and they got up together and they set out to be to go to and remain for a short time inv settled invas. He wasn't there for a long time. He was there for about 12 years before the binding of Isaac. as it says was in the land of the for many days as we mentioned already a few days ago even more than was and this and that was 26 years like we explained in verse uh 34 of chapter 21 now continues verse 20 just an interesting tidbit if you notice over here that Ara returns alone according to some of the commentaries. Why over here does it say only Aram came back on the mountain and we don't find any mention of and that is because according to some of the commentaries went to learn in the yeshiva of while a went back to verse 20 was after these words after the story of a and going back it was time for him to find a wife. So therefore the Torah tells us that the match for was born and was told to saying and also Milka gave birth. She also gave birth children to your brother to your brother. Who did she give birth to? And what do we find? Who are the children? Verse 20 Rashi. Verse 20 when he returned from Mount Mariah's thinking to himself and said if in the end result would have been that my son would have been slaughtered I would be without children already is going without children what's going on doesn't have anybody he hasn't been married yet he's saying to himself look if you would have slaughtered there wouldn't have been any children I should have married a beforeand to the children to the people of honor why did I wait what am I waiting for therefore right away God comes and tells him therefore he tells him that don't worry Rifka was just born his match was just born and therefore he will have who he will marry somebody from his family therefore he says after these words the thoughts that came to after being bringing as a sacrifice. What does it mean also her meaning that she also cames came from the families of and she has the same amount of families as a she had 12 sons just like had 12 tribes that came from Yakov eight from the [clears throat] from the uh main two wives which was six from Leia two from Rahul and four from the uh and four from the maidervants which is the four children of a so to these eight come from the actual wives the children of Milka and Beng and four of them came from the concubine which was so you see the same way that they had eight came from the main wives four from the secondary wives so to her so to here she had eight children from the main wives and four from the secondary wives. The Torah now continues verse 21. was the firstborn's brother. The father of 23k gave birth to Rifk. These eight children were born to the to son the and the brother of Ara. So these eight sons were born to's brother. 23. The only reason why the Torah mentions all these different people that were born to tell us that ultimately who was born Rifka which was going to be the match for verse 24 and concubine was her name was and she also gave birth to four children. This is where Ara heard from Hashem that Rebecca was born. was born and therefore he cancelled his search for a wife for because he knew only later is it going to be the search and he's going as we read about it in the next week's our reading. This concludes the co- reading for the seventh day of Viraa.