My Musing
In the midrash Rabah on Breishit, it is taught that the reason for Abraham’s existence was only for the sake of Yaakov’s existence. There are many ways to interpret and indentify with that teaching. In this week’s selection, the midrash expands this thought to include the existence of the whole world.
But if we look at this midrash in a more universal, albeit particularistic way, there is a very powerful message for the descendants of Jacob. The proof text used for necessity of Yaakov’s existence can be extended to his later generations. But that means that we, the progeny of Yaakov must keep the world in existence.
מדרש תנחומא (ורשא) פרשת תולדות סימן בIn the midrash Rabah on Breishit, it is taught that the reason for Abraham’s existence was only for the sake of Yaakov’s existence. There are many ways to interpret and indentify with that teaching. In this week’s selection, the midrash expands this thought to include the existence of the whole world.
But if we look at this midrash in a more universal, albeit particularistic way, there is a very powerful message for the descendants of Jacob. The proof text used for necessity of Yaakov’s existence can be extended to his later generations. But that means that we, the progeny of Yaakov must keep the world in existence.
(בראשית פרק כה:יט) "וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת יִצְחָק"
And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begot Isaac.
זה שאמר הכתוב (משלי כג:כד) "<גול> גִּיל <יגול> יָגִיל אֲבִי צַדִּיק <יולד> וְיוֹלֵד חָכָם <וישמח> יִשְׂמַח בּוֹ"
כנגד מי אמרו שלמה?
לא אמרו אלא כנגד יצחק, שבשעה שנולד יצחק היו הכל שמחים; שמים וארץ, חמה ולבנה, כוכבים ומזלות. ומפני מה היו שמחים? שאלמלא לא נברא יצחק לא היה העולם מתקיים. שנאמר, (ירמיהו לג:כה) "כֹּה אָמַר יְדֹוָד אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי", ואין בריתי אלא יצחק שנאמר (בראשית יז:כא) " וְאֶת בְּרִיתִי אָקִים אֶת יִצְחָק אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵד לְךָ שָׂרָה לַמּוֹעֵד הַזֶּה בַּשָּׁנָה הָאַחֶרֶת"
"And these are the generations of Isaac"
This is what the scripture said "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; and he that begot a wise child will have joy of him."
Who was Solomon [King Solomon is the traditional author of Proverbs] referring to?
It was not said except as referring to Isaac, that at the moment Isaac was born, all rejoiced; heaven and earth, sun and moon, stars and constellations. Why were they happy? Were it to be that Isaac had not been created the world would not exist. As it says, "Thus says the Lord, If My covenant be not with day and night, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth". And there is no covenant other than Isaac as it says, "And My covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.'
אין תגובות:
הוסף רשומת תגובה