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The Great Impact
Of Isaac's Faith

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

udaism stands upon the
test of Abraham's faith.
three patriarchs: Abraham,
There are two events mentioned in
Isaac and Jacob. Of these
the Torah where Isaac takes an initia-
forefathers, the most elusive is Isaac.
tive that seem incidental, but I believe
Unlike Abraham and Jacob, we are told they shed a profound light upon his
very little of the events of his life.
contribution as one of the patriarchs.
The role of Abraham as
The first is when the
the founder of monothe-
Torah tells us that in Isaac's
ism and the role of Jacob as
time there was a famine in
father of the 12 tribes is well
the land of Canaan similar
documented in the Torah but
the famine that had been
what is the role of Isaac and
in the days of Abraham.
why is he one of the three
Isaac's first response is to
pillars upon which Judaism
do exactly as his father
stands to this very day?
Abraham had done and to
No doubt the most nota-
travel to Egypt.
ble event of Isaac's life was
God tells him to stay in
Rabbi Michael
the Akedah when Abraham
Canaan
because he is dif-
Co hen
was told to sacrifice Isaac.
ferent
from
his father. Isaac
Special to the
Tradition tells us that Isaac
being
the
first
person born
Jewish News
was some 37 years old at
to "Jewish" parents sets the
the time.
pattern of following the
Abraham was following the instruc- lead of his mentor, his father.
tion of God that had been directly told
Later, the Torah tells that despite his
to him. God was testing Abraham's
great wealth and his achievements in
faith; for years Abraham had preached
agriculture and despite the fact that
against child sacrifice and he was now
the Philistines envied him, he decided
being asked to tell the world that he
to re-dig the wells that his father had
was going to conform to the very same dug that had been filled in by the
ideals that he himself had scorned.
Philistines. The Torah goes on to point
Furthermore, Abraham was being
out that he gave those wells the same
asked to sacrifice the very son that he
names that his father had given them.
had been told by God would carry on
Once again the Torah is indicating a
the tradition of monotheism. The test
central theme of Judaism, the concept
to Abraham was immense.
of following the footsteps of our par-
But consider for a moment the
ents (mesorah).
loyalty that was being asked of Isaac.
Isaac was unwavering in his devo-
Isaac did not hear the direct word of
tion to God and his devotion to the
God. Isaac became aware of his fate
tradition (mesorah) handed him by
only after traveling with his father for
his father Abraham. To this day, one of
some time, yet both he and his father
the foundations of Judaism is that of
proceeded willingly.
sticking to the path established by our
We see from here the unwavering
predecessors. For this reason, Isaac is
trust that Isaac had in the relationship one of the pillars upon which Judaism
between his father Abraham and God
stands. ❑
and the complete faith that he had in
his father's ability to hear the word of
Michael Cohen is rabbi of Young Israel
God to the point the he was prepared
of Oak Park.
to give his life to be a conduit for this

Conversations

Why was Esau prepared to sell the birthright? Why was it necessary
for Jacob to steal the blessings from Isaac once he had acquired the
birthright from Esau? What is the nature of a birthright and how is it
different from the blessings?

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