Page 38 - HaMizrachi #33 Sukkot 2021 USA

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yitzchak

The Loyal and Joyful Optimist

Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary

itzchak’s name means “he one symptom of his generally passive Nobody should mistake Yitzchak’s
who will laugh” and actually nature. Unlike Avraham, who journeys passivity as weakness. Quite the oppo-
precedes his birth, deriving to a new land, fights wars and argues site. Anyone holding a plank position
Yfrom the incredulous laugh with G-d’s justice, Yitzchak submis- for two minutes would tell you they
by both Avraham and Sarah upon hear- sively follows the way of his father and would much rather do jumping jacks.
ing the news that they would bear a mimics his actions. Father and son A successful movement cannot begin
child in old age (Bereishit 17:17 and both pass off their wives as their sisters without a pioneering and charismatic
18:13). Yitzchak thus symbolizes hope during their stay in Gerar (20:2 and 26:7) visionary. But after that comes the real
and continuity even when all pros- and become wealthy while living there hard work of sustaining the momen-
pects seem bleak. His legacy inspires (20:14 and 26:14). Yitzchak re-digs the tum, thwarting threats to continuity,
optimism beyond logic and trust in wells that Avraham had first dug but and ensuring future growth. This was
an occurrence so unlikely that the that the Philistines stopped up (26:18). Yitzchak’s greatness.
absurdity of it coming true makes it
laughable. Even Yitzchak’s courtship highlights Benjamin Franklin was one of the
his absence. Yaakov and Moshe meet world’s greatest inventors, inventing
Yitzchak’s name also foretells the
story of Yitzchak and Rivka caught in their brides at a well where they each swimming fins, bifocal glasses, the
a moment of playfulness (ק ֵח ַצ ְמ) while save the maidens in distress. Com- odometer and electricity. Interestingly,
Avimelech spies them out from his pare this with Yitzchak, whose father most of Franklin’s innovations preceded
palace window (Bereishit 26:8). This arranges for a servant to go seek a the great inventor in some form. Frank-
rare moment of marital intimacy in suitable bride. While Rivka heroically lin’s genius was in perfecting these
the Torah follows the scene of Yitzchak serves the thirsty servant and his earlier inventions and applying them
praying alongside and on behalf of his camels at a well, Yitzchak remains at to practical use. Someone before him
barren wife, displaying his care and home, patiently awaiting the delega- had already held out a rod in a light-
devotion to her. Yitzchak is unique tion’s return. ning storm. But Franklin was the first
among the patriarchs in that he married Yitzchak’s passive role begins already to direct electrical energy from clouds
only one woman, although that did not as a child, when his father binds him into a Leyden bottle, an early battery. In
prevent rivalry between his twin sons. science, the person who repeats, veri-
to an altar as a sacrifice to G-d. Deserv-
His monogamous relationship with edly, Avraham emerges in future lit- fies and perfects an experiment may be
his wife parallels his absolute com- urgy as the hero of the story for his just as crucial as the first inventor of an
mitment to the Land of Israel, which willingness to sacrifice his son. Nev- idea. The same is true for the origins of
he never left even when there was a ertheless, Yitzchak’s innocent inquiry, a movement or nation. There can only
famine in Canaan. This contrasts with “Where is the lamb for slaughter?” and be one founder, one Avraham. But all
his father, Avraham who left to Egypt his willingness to trust his father, “G-d future generations who continue and
when famine struck and turned to an will see to the lamb, my son” (Bereishit build upon the chain of tradition before
Egyptian woman, Hagar, to bear him a 22:7–8), certainly becomes a paradigm them will find a role model in Yitzchak.
child when his wife, Sarah, was barren. of fortitude, bravery, and selfless devo-
Instead, Yitzchak remained uncompro- tion. Yitzchak was miraculously saved Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary is a professor of
mising in his loyalty to the promised at the last moment with the knife about Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University and a
land, his wife, and his family’s future to slit his throat; future generations of rabbi at Sephardic Synagogue in Brooklyn. He
even in the face of enormous doubt. martyrs and victims of pogroms who is an author currently writing a commentary
on Talmudic discussions of Jewish holidays,
However, the uniqueness of his sin- took strength from Yitzchak’s example and he runs the websites teachtorah.org,
gle-minded commitment may be just would not be so lucky. pizmonim.org, and rabbinics.org.

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