I want to record two interesting points that I noticed in last week’s parsha before I forget them.
I noticed that there were two places in the parsha that hinted at the education and care that we need to give to our children. One was regarding Yishmael. When he was dying of thirst and G-d was about to reveal to Hagar the spring of water to save them both, Rashi brings from the words of the sages that the Heavenly angels came and argued that it’s not fair that he, whose offspring is going to murder Your children (the Jewish people) through thirst, now You will save him?!?
On that G-d answered, “ba’asher hu sham”, that he is judged according to his current deeds, and now he is righteous.
One can wonder at the prosecuting accusation, so what if his offspring is going to murder Jews? How is that an accusation on Yishma’el himself? The principle is that a person doesn’t die because of the sins of someone else. Why should Yishmael be held accountable for what his children are going to do in the future?
Rather what, you see from here that if a parent isn’t meticulous to bring up his children to be righteous, that this is a blemish on the parents themselves.
The second hint that I saw was something that I actually heard before from my good friend Shimon Moses z”l. At the Akaida, when Avraham and Yitzchak were approaching or going up Mt. Moriah, so it says like this: So Yitzchak said to Avraham his father, and said “Father”. And he said “Hineni beni” (Here I am, my son). And he said, here is the fire and the wood, where is the sheep to be the offering?
R. Shimon asked, Why does the Torah tell me that Avraham said to Yitzchak, Here I am, my son? What is this, a script? Every word it has to say? Rather, the meaning is that Avraham answered Yitzchak that I am here for you, 100% whatever I can do, whatever you need. Like in prophecy, when G-d calls the prophet, and he answers, Hineni. I am here, whatever it is that You want, I am ready.
So too, that’s what Avraham said to his son. 100% dedication, whatever I can do.
This post continues with Part 2.
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