Vayeira Torah Thoughts

Vayeira

Cheshvan 14 and 15,5774

October 18 and 19, 2013

And G-d commands and instructs Abraham, "Please take your son, your only one, who you love – Yitzchak (Isaac) - and go to the land of Moriyah. Sacrifice him as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will designate to you."

G-d truly tests Abraham’s devotion and reverence by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac atop Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.  So Abraham (The Father) bounds & places his son, Isaac upon the altar, and raises the knife to sacrifice and slaughter his own……………… A Booming Voice is heard from above, the heavens,..To stop Abraham, and to miraculously grab A passing Ram by the horns, and spare his own child, and offer the Ram as the SACRAFICE!

This just really appears as yet one more “test” G-d puts in front of Abraham..to test his reverence and to show that to the population of Abraham’s Kingdom, Or is it?   Actually this quote unquote test, showed NO Altruistic, selfish benefit for Abraham or could be seen in that manner –This was THE TEST!  Alienated on top of a mountain with NO witnesses!  If he, Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice (something G-d despised), it would show that Abraham followed the prior tests that G-d put forth upon him as proof, as if he killed his son, all the work towards the reverence of G-d and monotheism would be gone and the preverbal torch would be extinguished………………  G-d spared Isaac’s life and let Abraham know that he did INDEED pass this 10^th test with an A plus and honestly proved himself to ALL, especially to that of G-D!

G18:16  - 18

And G-d declares, “That because you performed this deed, and did not withhold your son, Isaac,

I will greatly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky, and like the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will inherit the gate of their enemies.

Through your children, will be blessed all the nations of the world, because you heeded MY voice."

Allow me to share and paraphrase the following from THE SCROLL – CHABABAD.ORG, “The Chassidic masters say that when we have the opportunity to give and there is NO glory, and it does not feel glamorous, and there is NO reciprocity in sight, we have been given a gift.  It’s the chance of egoless sacrifice.” 

PRETTY POWERFULL AND IMPACTFUL!

 So I ask,"when do WE really and honestly turn to G-d and revere and well…...?" talk out loud…be it in prayer, be it in silence, be it daily, be it in our homes, or in are OUR Shuls, be it when we hurt, be it when we are in desperate NEED and have “may be” disbelief or in Awe!

Life!  Life Cycles; good, indifferent and not so good:

This brings us to…

Catastrophic Happenings, such as Mother Nature brings the Word, “G-d” to one’s very tongue and lips, “WHY G-D!?,WHY!!!!”

Just last year,the Eastern  Seaboard, WE were hit with a catastrophic happening and horror- SANDY!  The most recently hit again-MOTHER NATURE!

People lost homes, pets, family members, power, and so much more…..Their Physical MEMORIES and family heirlooms!   I am sure the utterance of the almighty was yelled out, whispered, some in sincere prayer and reverence to G-D, and others mumbling and screaming due to their hurt, their losses, and their frustrations. (whew)

My sincere heart, love and prayer extend to ALL people/animals involved in any and all catastrophic devastation's.  

The New Jersey Coast basically had NO longer that of theportrayed old painted picture or photos!  The Subways in NY ceased operations. The 3 or 4 major airports serving the area were closed.  WALLSTREET EVEN CLOSED! Life was most definitely altered and put on hold!  Wait for just a moment; “my words..”Life was ….Put on hold”…I stand corrected; Just the opposite; Life is sacred and we, the people do act upon….act upon circumstances and hopefully go on AND LIVE!  I am confident in this time of need and despair, many of  of our brothers and sisters on The Eastern Sea Board, Millions of people spoke to G-d….many questions/few answers yet,…… BUT  the contact  was made to G-d!!

The acts of Mother Nature, helps bring out our direct communications to G-d, and some of us do happen to speak daily, “ Thank G-d for allowing me to wake up with 2 arms,2 legs……”    But when acts or I should say, FREAKS of Nature occur; it brings us closer in a sense to G-d and OUR VERY OWN Spirituality!  We believe in G-d, AND ….OUR AWARENESS is often questioned when “something” of magnitude transpires.

A Test, like that of Abraham?!!! I can’t give a 100% answer of , YES!!!!! “A” test, yes….But of what magnitude??? What I can tell you is ,…. The speaking to, the awareness of, the sincere prayer, the inquiries, the eyes, the hearts and the souls when CATASTROPHY hits, we ALL turn to G-d! Be it a test of our belief, of our strengths, of our weaknesses, or a just an occurrence that has US thinking ………… OUR ALMIGHTY G-D!!!!

I ask of you to give sincere thought and prayer, to please pray for, AND if you are ever able to give a small (or any) donation to help those people in need that are and were effected by a catastrophic event or a tragic unplanned happening that was out of their own control, to please do so…(anonymously)!  And that is a TRUE GIFT indeed!

-Amen