November 14, 2003 D'var TorahDear BSO Congregant, This coming Shabbat, November 14-15, 2003 - Heshvan 20, 5764, we will read Parshat Va-Yera (annual cycle - Genesis 18:1 - 22:24; triennial cycle Genesis 21:1 - 22:24). The Haftarah is from II Kings 4:1 - 37. The S'fardim read II Kings 4:1-23 and so do we at BSO. In the triennial Torah reading system created by the Rabbinical Assembly, and used at B’nai Shalom of Olney and many other Conservative congregations, the designated Torah reading from this week’s Parshat Va-Yera is Chapters 21 and 22 of Genesis. These two chapters should be quite familiar to almost every Jew, even to those who only attend synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is because Genesis Chapter 21 is the Torah reading for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Genesis 22 we read on the second day. Genesis Chapter 21 describes the birth of Isaac and the banishment of Haggar and Ishmael. Genesis Chapter 22 is one of the most famous stories in the entire Bible, “The Akedah – the Binding of Isaac.” The Akedah is, in many ways, a most troubling story. How can God command Abraham to take his son, place him on an altar, and offer him as a sacrifice? How can Abraham so passively accept this commandment? Is this the same Abraham who just two chapters earlier (Genesis Chapter 19) protests to God in an attempt to save the evil citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah? Perhaps the answer to this last question is that indeed, this is the same Abraham. Perhaps the reason Abraham did not complain to God when commanded to perform the Akedah, is because Abraham was expecting such a commandment all along. Perhaps that was the norm and quite expected from the gods Abraham had learned about while growing up in his father’s idol shop. It may indeed have been quite common for fathers to take their sons, bind them on an altar, and offer them as sacrifices. We know child sacrifice was not unheard of in those days. Chapter 22 of Genesis makes much more sense if you assume that actually Abraham was expecting this commandment from God. That is why he does not protest and seems to passively accept this commandment, which seems so abhorrent to us. Isaac is the one who is much more surprised and questioning, because as a young boy he had not yet been exposed to the barbaric pagan custom of sacrificing children to please their gods. This helps us understand a different explanation to the role of
the Akedah story in the Bible, which is found in a book I have recently On Page 233 of this book, Rushkoff writes the following in providing a somewhat new and different interpretation of the Akedah: “Abraham, on hearing his God’s command, shows no sign of hesitation. It was not a test at all, in this regard, but the conventional practice. Abraham hesitates only when he is instructed by God’s angel to halt the proceedings. The angel needs to tell Abraham not once, but twice (italics in original text) that this sacrifice need no longer be performed. The real test of Abraham is if he has enough faith in his God to refrain (italics in original text) from the standard and time-honored rite.” Abraham passes this text because Abraham realizes that what God
is commanding him to do is truly now the new right – rite thing
to do. Perhaps this is why we read Genesis Chapter 22 on Rosh Hashanah. Perhaps the true “test” of the Akedah we must pass as we begin each year is to look at those parts of our lives that no longer seem to work and make sense. We must be as willing as Abraham to smash the personal idols we individually worship to be ready to accept God’s challenge of bringing new and improved meaning into our lives. Otherwise the new year may be no different than the old. Our service on Friday night, November 14 will begin at 7:30 PM and candle lighting time is 4:35 PM. This Friday night service will include special instrumental participation and certain prayers lead by the childrens' and adult choirs. Thanks to Cantor Geller for coordinating these additional elements. In addition, we will complete our 20 year long study of Pirke' Avot. Our service on Shabbat morning, November 15 will begin at 9:00 AM. During this service we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Leah Shein. Mazel Tov! This is also the Disabilities Awareness Shabbat Service, Lorraine Thal, Head of the Accessible Congregations Campaign of the National Organization on Disability will speak during the service and again lead a discussion following services at Kiddush Konversation. Our Shabbat Minha/Ma-ariv/Havdalah service will begin at 4:30 PM. During this service we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Lauren Levine. Mazel Tov! Our service on Sunday morning, November 16 will begin at 8:45 AM. On Friday night, November 21 we will hold a Tot Shabbat service at 6:45 PM and a late Friday night service at 8:00 PM. The later service will continue our emphasis on disability awareness. On Shabbat morning, November 29 (Thanksgiving weekend) we will be priviliged
to hear from one of our members, Rob Goldberg. We have invited BSO's college students, high school juniors and seniors to join Rob at services (just get here by 10:30 AM). He will share with us changes in the campus community and issues confronting Jewish students as well as invite our students to share their own stories of Jewish life on campus. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Philip Pohl
|
|