From the Divre Torah of Rabbi Yaakob Savdie, Brooklyn NY:
It is one of the most difficult passages in Tanach.It defies our understanding. Rabbis & educators have made numerous attempts to demystify this story. Philosophers & moralists have debated its implications for centuries.
How could Hashem command Abraham to sacrifice his own son?
How could Hashem ask Abraham to take his long awaited son, his beloved son, his future, his hopes & dreams & sacrifice it all atop Har Hamoriah? How could Hashem demand that Abraham perform such an act? An act which was an idolatrous practice; An act that went against every fiber of his being; An act which was the exact opposite of his lifetime belief & preachings of one G-D???
I believe the answer answer has to do with LOVE.
Love is irrational. People who are truly in love can commit acts that are irrational for the sake of love. Love is intense.
In last week’s Haftara Hashem calls Abraham a very special name: “ABRAHAM OHABI” the one who LOVES me.
Out of all the Abot only Abraham Abeenu merited this special title. Why did Abraham alone merit this?
The Test of the Akeda was a test of extreme love. The love Abraham had for Hashem was certainly apparent throughout his life. Abraham spent his life preaching & rallying people towards belief in One G-d. However the extent of his love for G-d, the extreme love that swelled in Abraham's heart was not apparent. Hashem wanted the world to know of that love so he tested Abraham.
The special title Abraham received was only because of the Akeda. The intense love Abraham had towards Hashem was magnificently displayed at the Akeda (hence the hebrew for test "nisayon" comes from the root "nes" which means a flag or standard, something seen from afar). Abraham becomes the paradigm of love for G-d. (btw paradigm means model...common guys the SAT is coming up...start studying!)
Each day we read in Shema: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ:
We are commanded to love G-d with all our hearts & souls. Hazal explain bechol meodecha to mean whatever Hashem gives you.
No matter what Hashem throws our way in life we must continue to love & adore him fully. If Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son for the love of G-d we must be willing to sacrifice things that are important to us in our lives.
For the love of G-D! Shabbat Shalom...
Yaakob Savdie
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