Rabbi's Blog

The aftermath of The Akeidas Yitzchak/The Binding of Isaac brings a special blessing to Avraham through an angel of Hashem. Succinctly, the blessing states: 'Your offspring will increase like the stars of heaven and the sand of the shore; your offspring will inherit the gate of its enemy, and the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your offspring because you obeyed the command of Akeidas Yitzchak'. Parshas Vayera concludes with 22:19: 'Vayashav Avraham El N'arav Vayakumu Vayeilchu Yachdav El Be'er Sveva, Vayeishev Avraham B'Be'er Sheva';' Abraham returned to his young men, and they stood up and went together to Beer-Sheba, and Abraham dwelled in Beer-Sheba'.

Chacham Yosef Chaim* from Bahgdad, in his work "The Ben Ish Chai" writes, "Why is it necessary to state that Avraham dwelled in Be'er Sheva, when it is obvious that if he went there it was for the purpose of dwelling there? A second question is that the beginning of this verse is in the plural, yet why does it conclude with Avraham but not with his servants? Chacham Yosef Chaim answers with a Midrash, Rabbah 46:3: 'Heaven and Earth exist through the mitzvah of Milah/circumcision'. Therefore, the mitzva of Milah is to be performed on the eighth day because the number eight immediately follows the number seven which represents heaven and earth, including the seven heavens and the seven lands. Heaven and earth, which were created in seven days, is supported by Milah, which is performed on the eighth day, after the seventh.

In Bereishis 14:19 Avram is blessed by the Most High, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, because Avraham was the first to be given the mitzva of Milah. It is for this reason that Milah is called 'Be'er Sheva' the well of seven. This well nourishes the 'seven' of heaven and earth, and therefore it's Avraham who recognizes the source of energy in the world through Milah. When Avraham, and subsequently every Bris on the eighth day, draws down energy from Shamayim, from Heaven, and infused that energy into the world.

Everything in life, indeed, everything in the world, is driven by energy. Energy is used to fuel all physical and spiritual things. We are familiar with physical energy and its uses and purposes. Everything in this world can be used for good or for bad, and energy is definitely not an exception to this concept. Energy can be used to produce things necessary to enhance the quality and ease of life, or it can be used as a destructive, evil force. Some of the newest energy, nuclear energy, can be the most deadly force on earth; yet this very nuclear power can also be tapped for inexpensive and clean fuel.

In the physical realm we are always searching for clean, inexpensive and efficient new energy in order to make our lives more productive. As I have said in previous drashas, this lower world is a mirror image of the upper world. Just as energy is needed in the physical realm, we also need spiritual energy as well. At certain times in our lives a boost of energy is received through various blessings. When we are born, we are blessed; when we receive our names, we are blessed. Girls, upon turning twelve and boys, upon turning thirteen, receive blessings to continue their spiritual growth. When we get married we receive sheva brachos/ seven blessings (similar to the well of seven). We are given spiritual energy through all of these brachos. The priestly blessings are said by Kohanim every day in Israel and on each of the festivals in the Diaspora. Parents bless their children before the High Holidays and some bless their children every Friday night.

I would like to suggest an additional source of power and energy that people use to enhance and enrich in their lives. When I was in Yeshiva, I was inspired by many of the rabbeim particularly Rabbi Wein and Rabbi Reznick. Their wisdom and insights became major sources for inspiration, giving me an extra boost of energy. To this day, when my 'charge' is low, I try to boost it with verve from those individuals. Whether I review something that they taught me or speak with them directly on the phone, these rabbeim continue to provide me with an enormous amount of chizuk/strength. There are those moments in life when we become excited about something which infuses us with the desire to work harder. If we remember these moments and try to re-live them, they will continue to give us a push in the right direction. A special moment might have been a time when you helped someone, and that event made you feel good about yourself. Rekindle the moment. No event of deep, personal import should be limited to a specific time and place; one can look back and draw on the success of that instant and get a boost today- here and now!

Each and every person has an obligation to search for HIS/HER source of renewable energy; it's out there. In every person's life there was a teacher, a role model, an event that helped to shape us, to affect us profoundly. We live in a society which drains our energy levels and tests our resources to the limit. This incessant draining forces us to find new sources of strength and also to use that back-up generator to help kick in when life is so trying.

Avraham Avinu, through the mitzva of Milah, gave each and every Jew a spiritual energy which infuses powerful sparks into the mundane of the physical seven of the world. In truth, every mitzva that we perform and fulfill is compared to the alternator of a car that continuously re-charges its battery as it runs. Mitzvos constantly give us a charge which provides us with new energy. When the alternator itself is not working, then we need to find that outside source, be it a teacher, a Rabbi, a Rebbi, a parent, or a special event. Draw from these sources. They are there you just have to tap into them!

Ah Gut Shabbos Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky

*Yosef Chaim, or in Iraqi Hebrew Yoseph ?ayyim, (1 September 1832 - 30 August 1909) was a leading hakham (Sephardic Rabbi), authority on Jewish law (Halakha) and Master Kabbalist. He is best known as author of the work on Halakha Ben Ish ?ai ("Son of Man (who) Lives"), by which title he is also colloquially known.