Spirituality
Torah Portion/Synagogues
`Hineini I Am Here'
Shabbat Vayerah:
Genesis 18:1-22:24; II
Kings 4:1-37.
I
n this week's Torah portion is
Chapter 22 of Genesis, the well-
known, if not infamous, narrative
called Akaydat Yitzchak, the "Binding
of Isaac."
Though we read this story every
year at Rosh Hashanah, we are com-
pelled to revisit it now, several weeks
later, when it appears in the regular
cycle of weekly readings.
At the beginning of Chapter 22,
God calls out, "Abraham!" and Abra-
I am here."
ham responds, "Hineini
Later, when Abraham and Isaac are
walking up the mountain, with the
knife and wood and fire, Isaac speaks
for the first time, wondering about
the animal offering that is missing.
He says, "My father." And
Abraham responds, "Hineini — I am
here."
And finally, with knife held above
—
Joseph Klein is rabbi of
Temple Emanu-El.
before. I am here but I am not here
the bound Isaac, ready to descend and
— my body yes, my heart and soul
kill— God calls out, "Abraham,
no.
Abraham!," and for the third time in
Abraham answers Isaac's question
this single story, Abraham responds,
of
"My
father, where is the offering?"
"Hineini — I am here."
with
"God
will provide for it, my
Hineini — I am here; here I am.
son." A double-edged statement that
Though the same response, it is differ-
only he and we can appreciate.
ent in each of the three situations:
The father binds the son hands and
The first is rather matter-of-fact, a
feet, lifts him onto the wood,
verbal acknowledgement of his listen-
arranged on a readied altar.
ing, attentive presence.
He takes out the knife, lifts
But then, knowing what
it over his son. Is the knife
awaits them at the top of the
held
in midair for but a
mountain, Abraham takes
moment, or does Abraham
Isaac's hand and the two
hold it — waiting, hoping,
silently climb. Is Abraham
believing that God or con-
questioning himself, is he
science or circumstance will
questioning his God?
stop him?
Each step would bring
For a moment, or a
him closer to that single,
minute
all movement stops,
fearful, awful moment —
and into the silence God
and one wonders if he knew
RABBI JOSEPH
calls "Abraham, Abraham."
what he would then do?
KLEIN
"Hineini, I am still here"
And into that terrible,
Special to the
Abraham answers.
overwhelming silence, comes
Jewish News
With a single word,
Isaac's voice: "Avi, my father
Abraham
meets and moves
..." What Abraham thinks,
through
the
major
passage
points of
we do not know. What he says is,
his life: With hineini, he affirms he is
here I am, my son."
"Hineini b'ni
ready for God's mission. With hineini,
Perhaps Abraham is saying to him-
he reassures himself (and perhaps God
self, and only incidentally to his son,
and Isaac) that he is in control of his
"I am here" in ways unimaginable
emotions and impulses, his behavior
and belief.
And with hineini, he gives thanks
for having the strength and courage to
firmly accept his fate and follow his
faith.
Perhaps what's important in this
story is not God's testing-trial or even
Abraham's ready acceptance of the
task. Perhaps what's important is that
Abraham is prepared and ready to face
the moment, every moment, with his
entire self, fully engaged in the day-to-
day challenge of faith and fate.
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❑
Conversations
Our lives, too, are a series of calls
and response. What were the
times when you knew your life
would be changed by how you
responded? When were those
moments when your confidence
or courage, conscience or corn-
mitment was tested? In what
ways, do we live as Avraham
Avinu, Abraham our Father, not
even sure what is required of us,
and still we respond "Hineini,
Here I am."
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