Community Magazine October 2010

Dedicated inmemory of Mr. Irving Semah     14 Community magazine We human beings are very clever – sometimes a bit too clever. We have an uncanny ability to wiggle out of responsibility, to find excuses why we can’t or even shouldn’t do the right thing. When the task is too burdensome or the sacrifice too incon- venient for us to accept, we open our minds’ floodgates of creativ- ity and sophistry to find a way out, to dig up a reason to excuse ourselves from what we must do but don’t want to do. This is very likely one of the reasons why the Torah tells us the story of akedat Yizhak , the extraordinary test posed to Avraham Avinu. Gd commanded Avraham to do the unthinkable, to offer his beloved son Yizhak as a human sacrifice. Avraham loyally complied with the divine command, and just as he lifted his hand to perform the act of slaughter, an angel appeared and instructed him to withdraw the knife. At first glance, Avraham’s obedience might not strike us as something particularly unusual. After all, throughout the millennia of Jewish history, untold numbers of Jews have given their lives and accepted decrees against their children for the sake of Gd and Torah. We might even say that this has been the Jewish trend. Stories abound of faithful Jews who surrendered their lives during events such as the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition, among numerous other periods of persecution, rather than compromise their faith in Gd. Thus, Avraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son seems not altogether unique. But a careful analysis of akedat Yizhak reveals just how extraordinary Avraham’s devotion and loyalty was, and why he will forever serve as a paragon of unbridled and unconditional obedience to the word of Gd. Gd’s “Employees” The command of akedat Yitzhak tested Avraham not only emotionally, but intellectually, as well. It required him to commit an act that was not only contrary to his feelings, but that also defied logic and reason. Not too long before Gd issued this command, He instructed Avraham to send away Yishmael, his son from his maidservant, Hagar. Gd explained, “ Ki veYizhak yikare lecha zara – For it is through Yizhak that you will be considered to have offspring” (Beresheet 21:12). Avraham was told in no uncertain terms that his line of descendants would extend from Yizhak, and not from Yishmael. And now, before Yizhak even had a chance to marry and beget children, Gd tells Avraham to slaughter him. Avraham had every right to question, “Does this make any sense? Why should I sacrifice my son after Gd assured me that a great nation will emerge from him?” Yet, despite the seeming senselessness of this inexplicable command, Avraham obeyed. He didn’t question Gd’s judgment or demand an explanation. Instead, he just did as he was told. Businessmen can appreciate Avraham’s obedience in light of their experiences with employees. When a CEO issues a strategic directive after careful consideration, he expects unconditional compliance from his employees. One of the biggest headaches for any manager is an employee who constantly second guesses his or her duties and assumes the right to decide for himself or RABBI ELI MANSOUR A well treated employee who ignores his boss’ requests... The privileged child who constantly disobeys his parents... Rouge soldiers who second guess the orders of superiors... Few would argue that such behavior is wrong, yet when it comes to following the will of Hashem, we are often guilty of much worse.