NOVEMBER 4 • 2021 | 39

Avot 1:2). These are the spir-
itual pillars of the world. The 
Maharal of Prague explains 
that our forefathers, Avraham, 
Yitzchak and Yaakov, each 
embodied one of these pillars.
Avraham is the icon of acts 
of kindness. He embodied 
compassion, giving and love 
for all people. Yitzchak is the 
icon of service of God. It was 
he who willingly submitted 
himself as a sacrifice to God, 
and embodied devout service 
and prayer. And Yaakov is 
the icon of Torah learning. 
This week’s parshah, Toldot, 
describes him as a pure man 
who dwelt in “tents,
” which our 
sages understand to mean the 
tents of Torah learning. Yaakov 
was someone devoted to the 
pursuit of truth.
Rav Yaakov Kamanetsky 
raises an interesting question. 
He points out that Avraham 
and Yaakov each have a 
number of Torah portions 
devoted to their life story, 
while Yitzchak has just one 
— Toldot. Why is there so 
much told about Avraham and 
Yaakov and comparatively little 
about Yitzchak?
Rav Yaakov Kamanetsky 
explains the discrepancy is 
related to the impact each had 
on the world around them.
The Rambam writes that 
Avraham influenced tens of 
thousands of people to become 
adherents of ethical monothe-
ism. His impact on the world 
was substantial. As the embod-
iment of loving-kindness, he 
reached out to others — and 
people associated his kindness 
and compassion with God’s 
own kindness and compassion. 
The Midrash says, for example, 
that when Avraham would 
host guests in his home, at the 
end of the meal they would 
thank him, and he would redi-
rect them to thank Hashem.

As the one who disseminat-
ed Torah to the world, Yaakov 
had a similarly momen-
tous impact. Rav Yaakov 
Kamanetsky explains that 
Yaakov’s approach in teaching 
Torah was through its intellec-
tual power. He was able to con-
vey the depth of the wisdom of 
Torah to so many, illuminating 
both the world around them 
and within them.
Yitzchak, on the other 
hand, was very private. He 
embodied personal discipline 
and self-sacrifice, and a deep, 
unwavering commitment to 
God. His impact on the world 
was through his one and only 
disciple — his son, Yaakov.
Rav Yaakov Kamanetsky 
goes on to explain that 
Avraham and Yaakov had a 
much wider impact because 
their teachings were based on 
kindness and wisdom respec-
tively, which are appealing 
and compelling to people. But 
Yitzchak’s message was one of 
discipline and self-control, of 
personal integrity and self-sac-
rifice. These aren’t popular 
notions, and therefore his 
impact on the world was far 
more limited.
Rav Yaakov Kamanetsky 
makes the point that while 
these three different approach-
es impacted the world to dif-
ferent degrees, nevertheless all 
three are essential. Kindness 
and empathy; wisdom and 
insight; self-discipline and 
personal integrity — all three 
are vital components of true 
greatness. And all three — and 
the people who embodied 
them — are the spiritual pillars 
on which the world stands and 
the very essence of the Jewish 
people. 

Rabbi Warren Goldstein is the chief 

rabbi of South Africa. This essay was 

first published on aish.com.

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