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And it happened after these things that God tested everything around him (particularly, aspects of Jewish law, for the
Abraham and said to him, “Abraham,” and he replied, laws concerning patrilineal descent were directly responsible for his
“Here I am.” And He said, “Please take your son, your predicament). A fourth reading, which we would like to suggest, is that
only one, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the land of this story proceeds logically from – “comes out of” – the discussion of
Moriah; bring him there as an offering upon one of the blemishes at the beginning of Emor. The blasphemer’s psychological
mountains which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22: 1-2) blemish was as real as any physical blemish, if not more so.
That mountain according to tradition was the Temple Mount. The The Midrash notes that the blasphemer’s father was actually the
Sages also teach that Jacob was promised that he would inherit Egyptian Moses killed when he witnessed him beating a Jewish slave
the Land of Israel and had his archetypal dream about the angels (for in both cases the Torah uses the term “Egyptian man”). This
ascending and descending a ladder at this very location. Indeed, the Egyptian had slipped into the blasphemer’s mother’s bed while her
Midrash teaches that God caused the sun to set quickly to force Jacob husband was at work at night and unbeknownst to her she slept with
to spend the night in that exact spot (Bereishit Rabbah 68:10). him. When her husband found out, the Egyptian beat him mercilessly

Ultimately, those objects, times, places, or people that God chose (Rashi on Exodus 2:11). From this unholy union the blasphemer was
became holy specifically because He chose, designated and separated born, and in saving the blasphemer’s non-biological father, Moses lost
them for a special task or mission. What does this teach us about the his privileged status as a prince of Egypt and had to flee for his life. Thus,
relationship between choice and our search for holiness? The Sages the lives of Moses and the blasphemer are profoundly intertwined.
taught that “a dream follows its interpretation” (Berachot 55b). In A comparison of how the blasphemer and Moses dealt with
other words, if we put a good “spin” on a dream and interpret it in a the seemingly fickle blows of fortune is highly instructive. The
positive way, it will manifest positively. In this sense life is very much blasphemer was bitter and rebellious. He felt that he was the victim
like a dream. Daily events and occurrences are open to a myriad of of a cruel and fickle fate, and this ultimately led to the outburst in
interpretations. The way we experience life is ultimately determined which he cursed God for his plight. Moses could have reacted the
by how we choose to interpret what happens to us. same way. One day he was a prince of Egypt and the next day a
A life of holiness is ultimately the result of our choosing to be fugitive. Furthermore, it seems as if the person who informed the
involved with those things that God has chosen to be special and authorities about Moses’ actions may very well have been the Jew
holy. The more we surround ourselves with Torah, learn it in the he saved. Indeed, the day after Moses killed the Egyptian he saw two 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 13 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Magenta #24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 13 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Yellow
original Hebrew, give honor to and enjoy the Shabbat, and connect Jews fighting and tried to break up their fight. The Midrash informs 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 13 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Black 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 13 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Cyan
to the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, the more we can understand us that one of the men taunted Moses, subtly threatening to turn
and ultimately integrate holiness into our lives. him over to the authorities if he did not mind his own business. This
man, according to the Midrash, was the blasphemer’s non-biological
Yet, above and beyond all that we have said regarding attaining father (for who else would have known about the murder). Thus the
holiness, the Slonimer Rebbe stresses another dimension numerous man Moses had saved instead of showing Moses gratitude actually
times in his Netivot Shalom: ultimately holiness is a gift from God. threatened him. Immediately after that confrontation Moses’ murder
We of course have to do our part, by making our will His will and by of the Egyptian became known to Pharaoh and Moses had to flee.
fulfilling the Torah to the best of our abilities, but ultimately holiness Having lost his privileged status as a prince of Egypt and suffering
is bestowed upon us from above. By choosing a lifestyle infused with forty years of exile as a fugitive for defending a thankless Jew, Moses
Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds, we greatly increase the likelihood of had many opportunities to bewail his fate. Yet he never lost hope,
our being granted the unique and special quality we call holiness.

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