Parshat Vayera 5782
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Avraham Avinu was commanded to sacrifice his beloved son Yitzchak. This was the last of his ten tests, as Chazal teach (Avos, Chapter 5, Mishnah 3), Asarah Nisyonos Nisnasah Avraham Avinu V’Amad B’Kulam. Some of the commentators explain that the point of this challenging test was to enable Avraham Avinu to actualize his potential of total and absolute devotion to Hashem (see the Ramban and the Seforno). And this test was for the betterment of Avraham himself, as the Ramban states “L’Tovas Ha’Menuseh”.
The Sfas Emes teaches a different explanation as to why Hashem put Avraham Avinu through this and all the ten tests. He posits that as opposed to being for Avraham, it was for future generations. Chazal teach that Ma’ase Avos Siman L’Banim. As the Ramban explains this concept, the actions of the Avos set into motion and determined the course of future events. This is the reason why Avraham was put through these tests; to set into motion a future course for Clal Yisrael.
The Mishnah in Avos of Asara Nisyonos follows the first Mishnah in the fifth chapter which states B’Asara Ma’amaros Nivra Ha’Olam, the world was created in ten “speakings”. We have discussed in the past that the Sfas Emes explains in the name of his grandfather, the Chidushei Harim, that the word Amirah expresses a soft, gentle way of speaking. When Hashem created the world, He created a physical world of nature in which His presence isn’t clearly felt. In this world of nature and physical desire, it is very challenging to live life on a higher, more spiritual plane.
The Medrash Rabbah on our parsha (55,1) quotes the pasuk from sefer Tehillim (Chapter 60, Pasuk 6), Nasata Liyra’echa Nes Le’Hitnoses Mipnei Koshet Selah. You gave Avraham Avinu a “Nes”, a test Le’Hitnoses; which wasn’t effective just for that moment, but it impacted and allowed future successful tests for Bnei Yisrael. For in the nature world, it is hard to stress and focus on mitzvos with so many distractions. It requires miracles for Am Yisrael to continue and thrive living a life of Torah and mitzvos in the physical world.
And this is something we owe to Avraham Avinu. His Nisyonos enable us to live a holy life in a physical world. This is why the Mishnah begins with B’Asara Ma’amaros Nivra Ha’Olam; the created world is a physical world arranged according to the laws of nature. And a couple of Mishanyot later we read Asara Nisyonos Nisnasah Avraham Avinu; Avraham established a separate and distinct reality for Clal Yisrael. We live in a world which is arranged according to the laws of the Torah. We live above nature, and it is a result of this supernatural existence that we have survived and maintained our identity despite hardships that no other nation would be able to overcome.
This is why the pasuk in Tehillim concludes with the words Mipnei Koshet Selah. The word Koshet means truth and is a reference to the truth of the Torah. Our physical world of Olam Hazeh is an Alma D’Shikra; a world of lies. How could the Torah exist in such an environment?
This, as we explained, is thanks to the resilience of Avraham Avinu and his supernatural ability to withstand his tests. As the pasuk states (Micha, Chapter 7, Pasuk 20), Titen Emes L’Yaakov Chesed L’Avraham; the truth of Yaakov is of course, the Torah. And it was given to Yaakov as a result of the Chesed of Avraham.
The result is that the Asara Nisyonos of Avraham Avinu ultimately led to the Aseres Ha’Dibros. Avraham Avinu gave Clal Yisrael the ability to live in the world above the laws of nature. For according to nature, how could one overcome his love for his only son and follow the Divine decree? And this Nes of Avraham Avinu was allowed Lehitnoses; to spread further and allow us to live in such an imperfect world and follow the Divine commands of the Torah. This is why the Asara Ma’amaros are followed by the Asarah Nisyonos which ultimately allowed us to receive and keep the Aseres Ha’Dibros.
Good Shabbos
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