Parshas Lech Lecha
Nov 3rd, 2011 | By admin | Category: For The Shabbos Table, Parsha HaShavua, Sefer Bereishis
The Family That Prays Together…
by Rabbi Yechezkel Fox
From there he relocated to the mountain east of Beth-el on the west and pitched his tent, with Beth-el on the west and Ai on the east; and he built there an altar to G-d and called out in the Name of G-d. Ch.12/8
The Ramban explains that when Avraham called out in the Name of G-d he was actively spreading the belief in The One G-d to as many people as possible. In fact, this was his main occupation throughout his life. Yitzchak, although to a lesser degree, followed his example (see verse 26/25). However, we never see Yaakov active in converting the masses. Why not?
The Ramban explains that because Yaakov had twelve sons who all lived their lives as servants of G-d, they and their families became the community of Israel. Now their beliefs and deeds would become public knowledge without actively preaching them to the nations. So from then until today, our focus is inward, always looking to improve ourselves, and to become thereby the “light unto the nations” that we are supposed to be.
* * * * *
A Second Look
And it occurred,as he was about to come to Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,”Behold, now have I known that you are a woman of beautiful appearance.” Ch.12/11
Why is it that Avraham didn’t realize how beautiful Sarah was until they were approaching Egypt?
Rabbi Yonason Eyebeschitz explains it as follows: Another name of Sarah was Iscah, mentioned back at Ch.11/29. There, Rashi tells us the meaning of that name: Because she saw with Divine inspiration, and [secondly] because all would gaze at her beauty. Both these interpretations go together, as King Solomon said, The wisdom of man lights up his face. The Divine Presence that resided with Sarah gave her an incredibly beautiful appearance. So Avraham thought that his wife’s beauty was purely spiritual. But now as they were approaching Egypt, a place of great impurity, the Divine Presence departed from Sarah. Only then did Avraham see that indeed Sarah was of great natural beauty, as well.
* * * * *
From the Zohar:
The Arab Claim to the Land of Israel
And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised on the flesh of his foreskin. Ch.17/25
For hundreds of years it was predominantly the Arabs who lived in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel.) Then, the land was barren and desolate. During the 20th century the Jews returned in their millions and the land began to come alive and flourish. Let us pose three questions: In what merit were the Arabs privileged to live in Eretz Yisrael? Why did the land remain barren and desolate during their predominance? And why did the land begin to flourish again when the Jews returned?
In the Zohar we find a very interesting way to answer these questions. The Zohar says, because the descendants of Ishmael (the Arabs), will perform the mitzvah of bris mila (circumcision), they will merit to live in Eretz Yisrael. However, since they only partially perform the mitzvah, (they don’t pull back the membrane after cutting), they can only live in the land when it is barren and desolate. However, towards the end of time, the land will once again flourish. Then, only the Jews will have the merit to live in the land because they perform the complete mitzvah of mila.
Prophetically, the Zohar goes on to say, that the descendants of Ishmael will not give up easilly. Rather, they will make difficult wars through out the world in order to stay. But, because their merit of mila has gone, they will not be successful.
Sources:Ta’am VeDas by Rav Moshe Sternbach
Related posts:
