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                                          Parshas Vayeira - Swim Against the Tide

This week's Parsha talks at length about Chessed, kindness. Abraham was the epitome of Chessed. We see, throughout the account of his life, his devotion to others and his unending kindness. So imbued was Abraham with Chesed that the Bahir, a mystical work, tells us that the attribute of Chessed (kindness) came before G-d and complained that as long as Abraham was around it did not have any work to do.

It is against this background that G-d made a startling request, to sacrifice 'your son, your only son, whom you love.' In the end, of course, G-d did not allow this to happen and sent a ram in Isaac's place, but at the time when Abraham was commanded he really thought he would have to sacrifice his son. Not only had he waited many years for Sarah to give birth but even without this personal consideration, Abraham wanted an heir to carry on his work in spreading monotheism. Isaac was that heir and here was G-d telling him to throw everything away.

Yet Abraham prepared to do as G-d had told him.

We find in this an incredible measure of self-sacrifice on the part of Abraham. Here was someone who was renowned for their kindness, being asked to pass a test which was the very antithesis of that kindness, to be willing to invoke the attribute of 'gevurah' which means harshness, strictness, to go totally against their very essence and being, to fulfil G-d's will.

We are told in the Torah that 'maaseh avos siman l'banim', that the deeds of our Forefathers are a symbol to the future generations. Not just a symbol, but an infusion of energy and of koach (potential) for us to follow the trail they blazed for us.

The Akeidah, the story of the Binding of Isaac, sets a task for each of us, throughout the generations, to be prepared to put our own considerations on the side, even going against our own nature and instinct, to do the right thing. It is not easy to swim against the tide, either within ourselves, the personal challenges we face, or within the wider society, when we are challenged by the world around us. Yet our Forefathers were able to do it, and so are we.

Shabbat Shalom