Rabbi's Blog

Despite  post-election confusion, fears and uncertainty, raging fires, Thanksgiving, and anti-Semitism, the city of Chevron is on the mind of Jews throughout the world. It will be remembered that this Shabbos corresponds with the reading of the Torah passages which relate to Avraham’s burial of Sorah at the Cave of Machpela, located in Chevron. Every year, on this Shabbos when these pesukim are read, Jews from around the country go to Chevron in commemoration of this event. Chevron will see thousands of visitors this Shabbos. Unfortunately, however, Chevron won’t be the only city with Jews flocking to it this year.

From time to time I write about Eretz Yisrael and its ongoing challenges with the Arabs and their incessant desire to destroy us. Every few years a new wave of terror and a new kind of terrorism attacks Israel. As we Jews in America are enjoying a long week-end vacation in excess of 80,000 Jews in Haifa alone continue to be evacuated from their homes as raging, fires – caused by a lethal combination of open admission of terrorist-inspired arson compounded by unfortunate strong winds -  continue to burn across Israel, coming too close to many communities while simultaneously scorching huge swaths of Israel.

The adage that ‘time heals all’ isn’t all that true. Rather, with the passing of time we tend to forget how bad things were. No matter what kind of uncertainty a person or nation faces with the passing of time, circumstance become clearer and fears - in most cases - are calmed. Here in America by and large post-election issues are hopefully becoming clearer in the minds of those who initially expressed fear. One major issue, however, in my opinion, is the opening of a new wave of anti-Semitism on a political level on both sides of the aisle. (I will address this in greater detail in a future message). The State and entire Land of Israel is once again fighting terrorism, and I am confident that with the help of the Almighty this too shall pass. Unfortunately, in life and even in wars that are won, many people are hurt and die. Such is true with the ongoing battle of terrorism; we will win but there will be a cost.

Very few people, in fact, very few nations, have the resilience of the Jews -  especially those of us who live in Eretz Yisrael.  It is really a wonder how, after thousands of years of being displaced and exiled from Israel (at least now in the spiritual sense),  we remain deeply attached to the Land. We have been divided as a people, spread out to the four corners of the earth, and yet there remains the indomitable spirit of our identity, our open contributions to all of humankind, our love for Eretz Yisroel in our hearts. This spirit gives us strength to be successful in every country to which we were exiled. In the natural way of life, any other nation would have blended into its new society and forgotten about where they came from, but not us. With all that has transpired over the centuries, we continue to be pulled and deeply connected to Eretz Yisrael. Where do we get this love, desire and national stamina to keep on going, to continue to hope and dream of returning to our homeland? I believe an answer to this question is buried in a passuk in the Torah.

In this week’s Parsha Chayei Sorah 24:6 the Torah states: “VaYomer Eilav Avraham, Hishamer L’Cha Pen Tasshiv Es B’ni Shama. Hashem Elokei HaShamayim Asher l’Kachani MiBeis Auvi U’MeiEretz Molad’ti Va’Asher Diber Li Va’Asher Nishba Li Laymore, L’Zaracha Eten Es HaAretz HaZos Hu Yishlach Malacho L’Fanecha V’Lakachta Isha Livni Misham”. Avraham speaks to Eliezer his servant with regard to finding a wife for Yitzchok. “Be most careful in this respect,” replied Avraham. “Do not bring my son back there! God, the Lord of heaven, took me away from my father’s house and the land of my birth. He spoke to me and made an oath. ‘To your off-spring I will give this land.’ He will send His angel before you, and you will indeed find a wife there for my son. If the girl does not want to come back with you, then you shall be absolved of my oath. But no matter what, do not bring my son back there.”  In examining the wording of these verses Don Isaac Abravanel asks, “Why does Avraham instruct Eliezer not to bring his son Yitzchok ‘back there’?” Yitzchok was never there in the first place! Rather, shouldn’t it  say, “Don’t bring my son there?” 

The Midrash Lekach Tov explains Avraham’s warning to Eliezer his servant in verse six on the word ‘L’cha’: Be careful in this respect of ‘going’ because Hashem told Avraham ‘Lech L’Cha Mei’Artzecha’…. Hashem commanded me to leave that very same place and come to the land of Canaan. Avraham did not did not want to allow Yitzchok to leave or to be taken out of Eretz Yisrael. Despite the fact Avraham knew his children will eventually be exiled, he nevertheless insisted that Yitzchok remain to establish and solidify the Jewish people to be connected to the land.  Yitzchok had been instilled with a great level of sanctity that would sustain and strengthen the people and their commitment to the Land of Israel for the future. The Zohar adds that Avraham wanted Yitzchok to remain with him and not the people there so as to learn from Avraham the ways of Hashem and Torah.

It was critical for Yitzchok to stay in Eretz Yisrael and through him the love and desire of the Eretz Yisrael would be transmitted to Klal Yisroel despite the fact future generations would be forced to leave Israel. This is indicated by the words ‘rak’/only two pesukim later in verse eight. The gemara learns out and derives a halachik principle, stating the word ‘rak’ is a MI ‘UT, meaning a limitation to what was previously learned. This implies that only Yitzchok would remain;  his son Yaakov would eventually run away, actually back to the old family in the exile.

Therefore, in the absence of Yitzchok going with Eliezer, Avraham promises him that Hashem will send an angel so as to assure that Yitzchok need not leave. There are many excuses and rationalizations (some good some bad) to leave Eretz Yisrael when the need arises. Nevertheless, Avraham’s trust in God that He will send an angel to help and allow Yitzchok to remain is the timeless pull we feel within ourselves. We hope and pray that HaKadosh Baruch Hu sends the angels again to protect Eretz Yisrael and our brethren now and in the future. I  suggest that through the mesiras nefesh the Jews are now enduring through this latest terror, God will send the angels  - just as He did for our forefather Isaac,  allowing him to remain in Israel - to all of us to remain as well. The Jewish people should only travel away from their homes on their terms to pray and be by the Meoras HaMachpeila,  not to be forced to flee  due to terror. May Hashem send a full and speedy resolve for Acheinu Kol B’nei Eretz Yisrael.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky