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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