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Isaac Demonstrated
The Need For Followers

RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT

Special to The Jewish News

A

mong the Patriarchs
of our tradition, Isaac
is a silent, almost
mysterious figure. He darts
like a shadow across the
pages of the Torah, saying lit-
tle, doing little. He essential-
ly is a passive personality.
Even when he is mentioned —
and he is given far less space
than either Abraham or
Jacob — the events that in-
volve him are directed by
others. He is never really in
control of his life or his
destiny.
There are three great
events that take place in

Shabbat Toledot:
Genesis
25:19-28:9,
Malachi 1:1-2:7

Isaac's life: the akedah (his
binding at Mt. Moriah), his
marriage to Rebecca, and his
blessings to his children.
When the Torah describes
the akedah it emphasizes the
role of Abraham. Isaac is, for
the most part, comletely
passive. He lets himself be
bound. He lies on the altar.
He sees his father begin to
plunge the knife into him. He
simply follows orders.
Later, when Isaac marries
Rebecca, everything is ar-
ranged for him. Abraham
sends his servant to find a
wife for him. And the servant
finds Rebecca. She leaves her
home. It is she who comes to
Isaac. The Torah gives us
much detail about Rebecca's
decision, but tells us nothing
about Isaac's feelings at this
time. The choice of the wife
who will Vear him a son to
carry on the destiny of Israel
is being made. Isaac merely
observes destiny as it unfolds.
And, finally, the same pat-
tern continues with Isaac's
blessings for his children. His
blessing is not given in the
way he intended. Once again
others direct the events of his
life. Rebecca, Jacob and Esau
play out the drama while
Isaac sits on the sidelines.
The fact remains that Isaac,
despite his passivity, became
one of the three Patriarchs,
whose characteristics and
deeds Jews have tried to
emulate through the genera-
tions. The truth is, just as the
world needs dynamic leaders,
it also needs loyal followers.

Morton F Yolkut is rabbi of
Congregation B'nai David.

The opening verse of this
week's sidrah succinctly cap-
tures the essence of Isaac's
life story. "There are the
generations of Isaac,
Abraham's son . . . Abraham
gave birth to Isaac." He was
his father's son, and that was
his distinctive greatness.
Isaac guarded and preserv-
ed the spiritual legacy which
his father had entrusted to
his care and he successfully
transmitted it to his descen-
dants. In short, the greatest
compliment that we can
bestow upon Isaac is that
while he was not a mover or
a shaker, he was a good and
loyal follower.
Here is an aspect of life
which is rarely appreciated.
We are often so enamored of
leadership that we overlook
the importance of follower-
ship. Followership is the abili-
ty to participate in a group
without having to dominate,
the ability to join in harmony
without having to be the
leader, the ability to carry out
a decision as well as to make
one.
The rabbis in Pirkei Avot
urge us, "Be rather a tail to
lions than a head to foxes."
Isaac was a loyal and devoted
follower and that fact defined
his greatness.

Beth El Hears
Todd Endelman

Todd M. Endelman, pro-
fessor of history at the
University of Michigan, will
speak on "Religious Renewal
in American Jewry: Myth or
Reality?" 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at
Temple Beth El. A breakfast
will be held at 9 a.m. before
the lecture.
Endelman studied at the
Hebrew Union College
Jewish Institute of Religion
and holds a Ph.D. from Har-
vard University.
The temple brotherhood is
sponsoring the event.
Both the lecture and
breakfast are free and open to
the public.

Temple Hosts
Art Show

The grand opening of the
Birmingham Temple's 25th
anniversary art show will be
held at 8:30 p.m. today.
Local and national artists
will present their works for
public purchase. The show
continues through Sunday.
For information, call the
temple, 477-1410.

ON

STAGE

A CERAMIC%
SONG
&I)PsNC.N..

8:00 P.M.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1988

Admission:
Members $9.00
Non-Members $10.00
Children & Seniors $8.00

For further information. call 661-1000, Extension 341

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