Our Personal Akeidah | Rabbi Doniel Osher Kleinman

One of the most exalted levels a Yid can reach is to be Moser Nefesh Al Kiddush Hashem. Klal Yisroel, throughout the generations, many of our grandparents, great grandparents, have been Moser Nefesh Al Kiddush Hashem, by the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, the Holocaust, many other times in Klal Yisroel’s history. Those who give up their lives Al Kiddush Hashem are known as Kedoshim. There's another level of Kiddush Hashem, and that's the level of Akeidah. Avraham Avinu, at the end of his ten Nisyonos, was tested with the Akeidas Yitzchak. Akeidah, is an acronym, it's the Rashei Teivos, for Al Kiddush Hashem. Avraham Avinu attained perfection, because he was willing to give up his son, Yitzchak, Al Kiddush Hashem. It's interesting that the Akeidah is attributed primarily to Avraham Avinu. It's Avraham Avinu’s Zchus. It's not known as the tenth Nisayon of Yitzchak. The tenth Nisayon of Avraham Avinu. Why? There's an answer that's given, Because to die Al Kiddush Hashem is definitely a Madrega, it's a tremendous level, but to live Al Kiddush Hashem, to continue living after being Moser Nefesh Al Kiddush Hashem, and to go on and to move on and still serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu, to plug through, day by day, the Nisyonos of life, and to live Al Kiddush Hashem, that's the highest level possible. Are we able to merit this level of Kiddush Hashem? Can we attain this Madrega of living Al Kiddush Hashem? The Rambam in Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah famously writes, Anybody who stays away from an Aveira or does a Mitzvah, for no outside motivation, he doesn't do it out of fear, out of stress, not for seeking honor, rather does it just for the sake of Hashem, just like Yosef did in private, when he held himself back from Eishes Potiphar, the wife of his master, the Rambam says, that's called Kiddush Hashem. You were Mekadesh es Hashem. Every day when we walk down the street, Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives us opportunities to live our lives Al Kiddush Hashem, to attain a level that Yosef Hatzaddik merited, to attain a level that Avraham Avinu merited. To die Al Kiddush Hashem, tremendous Madrega. Incredible, you become a Kadosh. But it's another thing to live Al Kiddush Hashem. Next time you walk through the street, and you can look at something. It's inappropriate, but you have a desire. Every person has a Yetzer Hara. And you look away, לא מפני דבר בעולם for no outside motivation, nobody will know about it. לא פחד, לא יראה, לא מניעת הכבוד, אלא בשביל הקדוש ברוך הוא, just for Hashem. Hashem, I'm doing this for You, Hashem, because I love You, Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Because I fear You, because I care, because You want me to do this, you become a Kadosh. That becomes your personal Akeidah, which becomes the greatest source of Kedushah in your life.