"Here I am" – the roots of self-sacrifice and devotion.
Parshah and its realization - Parshat Vayera and Operation 'Iron Swords' 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated to the IDF soldiers' success, their well-being, to the recovery of those wounded and safe return of all the hostages.
The events of Shabbat Simchat Torah 5784 highlighted in a special way the Mesirut Nefesh - 'devotion' that exists within the people of Israel, one to another. Hundreds of cases of people, from all parts of Israeli society, who gave their lives to save people they did not know. Many of them are civilians, who are not part of the security forces, those who do not have an official responsibility to save others. Their inner voice told them to endanger themselves, to save their brothers in trouble, despite everything, with 'devotion' and they answered הִנֵּֽנִי 'Here I am.' The multitude of cases shows a special DNA that inspires astonishment and appreciation of the 'devotion' that has existed in the people of Israel for generations.
From the 'Parashat Ha'akeida' which we'll read on Shabbat we can learn about the roots of this trait in the people of Israel.
'Parashat Ha'akeida' (the binding of Yitzhak) is one of the Torah's founding Parashot, and is very difficult to comprehend. The unique phrase - הִנֵּֽנִי'Here I am' is mentioned three times: As an expression of Abraham's absolute obedience to G-d's command: "And he said, Here I am" (Bereshit 22:1), as an answer to his son Yitzhak: "Here I am my son" (ibid. 7), and as an answer to Hashem's angel: "Do not raise your hand against the boy": "And he answered, “Here I am." (ibid. 11).
Although the verses mainly describe Abraham Avinu's test at the binding, in fact the central personality in the binding is Yitzhak, and his experience does not fall short of his father's. Therefore, it is called 'Akeidat Yitzhak'.
Some refer to Yitzhak as a 'boy' who is led to the Akeida by his father, in a passive way (Ibn Ezra 22:5). However, Sages emphasize that at the time of the Akeida Yitzhak was thirty-seven years old and strong (Bereishit Rabbah 95:4). Had he not been willing to surrender himself to the binding according to the divine command, in a way that is difficult to understand, it would not have happened:
הא לכם יצחק, ע"ה, אשר מסר עצמו בלי שום סירוב ועיכוב, ופשט צווארו על גבי מזבח להישחט, לעשות רצונו, יתברך, עם שהיה יכול בקטנה שבתנועות להימלט על נפשו, בהיותו בתוקף, במבחר ימיו..
"O Yitzhak, Z'L, who gave himself up without any refusal or delay, and laid his neck on an altar to be slaughtered, to do His will, who could with the smallest of movements escape for his life, being strong, in the prime of his life" (Sefer Bina Le'itim, sermons by Rabbi Azaria Figo). Yitzhak went to the Akeida with a clear mind:
"ומלאכי השרת אומרים בואו ראו שני צדיקים, אב שוחט ובן עומד לישחט ואין מעכב בידו"
"And the ministering angels said: come and see two righteous men, a father slaughtering and a son about to be slaughtered and there is no one holding him back". (Avot DeRabbi Natan(.
Yitzhak recognized the meaning of the supreme Divine command received by Abraham, and went above and beyond to understand it and identify with it: "Yitzhak was not a child any more, he was a man of 37 years and independent; his greatness of mind and spirit equaled Abraham's: he had not received the divine command directly from G-d but from the mouth of his father as an "oral tradition". Here the first Jewish son sacrificed himself for a "tradition" which he had received from his father. This was so because his father's character and greatness of mind guaranteed the truth of all that was handed down to him in the name of G-d. Thus each generation sees in the previous one the guarantor for the truthfulness of its traditions" (Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch Bereshit 22:3).
מעשה אבות סימן לבנים - ממעשה אבות ניתן ללמוד מה הוטבע בתורשה בבנים לדורות הבאים:
"Maaseh Avot Siman LeBanim - The actions of the fathers are a sign for the children” - From the actions of the fathers it is possible to learn about the following generations' inheritance:
"אומר לך כלל תבין אותו בכל הפרשיות הבאות בענין אברהם יצחק ויעקב, והוא ענין גדול הזכירוהו רבותינו בדרך קצרה, ואמרו (תנחומא ט): כל מה שאירע לאבות סימן לבנים"
"I will tell you a principle by which you will understand all the coming portions of Scripture concerning Abraham, Yitzhak, and Ya'acov. It is indeed a great matter which our Rabbis mentioned briefly, saying: “Whatever has happened to the patriarchs is a sign to the children." (Ramban Bereshit 12:6)
The test of the binding made an impression on the people of Israel's collective DNA; the unimaginable devotion and willingness to sacrifice oneself, about what is dear and sacred to us. It teaches how far endurance can reach in the face of unparalleled challenging experiences. Thanks to a firm belief in G-d and the Torah.
Throughout the generations, for thousands of years, from Akeidat Yitzhak to our present day, the people of Israel knew many 'Akeidot'. In the years of exile, these were mainly because of the gentiles' desire to convert Jews to their religion, or because of hatred of Jews.
Since the establishment of the State of Israel and the establishment of the Hebrew Defense Force, the people of Israel have known 'bindings' of sons who called out 'Here I am'; who responded, with a clear mind and a whole heart, to protect the nation. And they were ready to surrender their souls and bind themselves to protect it with their bodies. Fathers and mothers who pass on the legacy from generation to generation and educate their sons this way.
With Prayers to G-d to keep our soldiers in peace, when they enter and when they leave, and no evil shall befall them.
With faith in unity and bravery we shall win.