Torah Portion

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48

We have produced great visionar-
ies like Abraham, who set forth a
dream of a moral world, founded
on justice and redeemed by truth.
And then "Isaacs" arose who trans-
mitted those ideals into codes of law
and into the discipline of an orga-
nized community. In the eighth cen-
he Torah portion begins
tury BCE, Micah, the prophetic -
with: "And these are the
genius, called upon his people in
generations of Isaac." The
the name of God "to do justly, to
history of Isaac's life is
love mercy, and to walk humbly with
very unlike that of his father
thy God." While these moral
Abraham, for it does not reveal to us
demands may have been forgotten
any stirring events or epic-making
or rejected by his generation and
developments. Isaac's existence was
the generations that followed, the
essentially peaceful and tranquil.
sages of Israel, after the age of
One notes the great contrast
prophecy had ceased, established the
between Abraham and Isaac.
laws that translated justice and
Abraham was the innovator;
mercy and humility into
and Isaac, the recipient;
the collective existence of
Abraham was the trail blaz-
the Jewish people. The
er; and Isaac, the follower;
great achievement of the
Abraham was the visionary;
Talmud, produced over
and Isaac, the pragmatist.
many centuries by the
Abraham was the bold revo-
"Isaacs" of Jewish history,
lutionary; and Isaac, the
was the implementation of
conservative.
a program of moral con-
One verse vividly illus-
duct and spiritual excel-
RABBI IRWIN
trates this relationship of
lence that shaped the char-
GRO NER
father and son: "Isaac dug
acter of every Jew.
Spec ial to
anew the wells which had
As we reflect upon the
The Jew ish News American Jewish communi-
been dug in the days of his
father Abraham and which
ty, we reaffirm the need
the Philistines has stopped
for modern "Isaacs." The
up after Abraham's death ..." Isaac
Jewish people has been distinguished
lived where his father had lived.
by its precious springs of moral
Abraham dug new wells; Isaac re-
teaching and religious truth; its
opened the old.
living waters have nourished and '-
Perhaps that was Isaac's unique
enriched Western civilization. But
contribution. He was a true descen-
as a consequence of assimilation,
dant of his father, holding firmly to
the sources of Jewish spirit have
the family heritage. He did not
become concealed from many of our
squander his patrimony; he guarded
people.
the treasures bequeathed to him, and
In our time, the task of Isaac
he handed them down to subsequent
needs to be undertaken with
generations.
unremitting effort. Every person
To discover new sources and to
who is associated with a synagogue
open new springs is not, and cannot
and participates in its life renews Lie
be, the vocation of everyone. People
life-giving wells of our people, Every
who open new paths for the human
parent who introduces religious
spirit are few — for they must be
observances in the home releases
'blessed with singular talents and
fountains of inspiration which will
gifts. But to ensure that the existing
revive the parched spirit of our
wells not be corrupted; to guarantee
young. Every jew who seeks to be
the continuous flow of living waters
informed about his heritage, who
— these are the duties that can be
engages in the practice of mitzvot,
assumed by all who remain loyal to
who renews the values of the Jewish
the test of their heritage. Abraham
tradition in his own life has madeci
and Isaac fulfill complementary
contribution of abiding meaning to
goals. In the synthesis of their activi-
our present and future.
ties and energies lies the secret of the
The role of Isaac may be undra-
Jewish achievement through the
matic and unspectacular, but it will
ages.
prove to be a continuing source of
blessing, an enduring contribution
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
to the goal of our redemption. ❑
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

Shabbat Toleclot:
Genesis 25:19-28:9;
I Samuel 20:18-42.

(248) 681-5424

T