Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 20 Cheshvan, 5784
Parsha Va-Yera’: (Genesis 18:1-22:24) 
Seventh Portion: Genesis 22:1-22:24

Shabbat Shalom! We close out Va-Yera’ (An He Appeared) with POWER.  I am going to dig into the Torah AND Haftorah portion today because we have a lot of really interesting imagery.

To summarize the Torah before jumping in:

• Hashem asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (the miracle child who Hashem provided an egg supernaturally for)
• Hashem provides a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of the miracle child
• Hashem makes a promise.

To summarize the Haftorah:

• Elisha meets a desperate woman who asks for help and blesses her with abundance beyond what she could carry.
• Elisha meets a woman who has everything but a child and asks for nothing. Instead, she PROVIDES Elisha a place to stay
• Elisha is grateful and asks how he can repay her. She says she doesn’t need anything.
• Elisha discovers through a third party that she wants a son but can’t because her husband is too old
• Elisha brings her to him and tells her she will have a child, she doesn’t believe him
• She has a miracle child!
  • Remember – dad can’t have a son because he’s too old. So – virgin birth?
• The kid grows up and tells his dad his head hurts asks dad to take him to his mom
• Kid gets to his mom AND DIES
• She doesn’t tell her husband, but instead asks him to get someone to go get Elisha.
• He asks why? She tells him “all is well.”
• Elisha sends his servant to meet mom, and he asks how she’s doing. She tells him “all is well.”
• Mom gets to Elisha and pours out her heart to him. Elisha sends his servant to heal the boy. Mom and Elisha go with him, but servant goes into the room first
• Servant does it wrong.
• Elisha and mom go to the house and Elisha does a ritual to bring the boy back to life.

So this is the overall view of the portion and Haftorah today!

Let’s dig in! (Genesis 22:1-8)

1And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, “Abraham,” and he said, “Here I am.”

2And He said, “Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you.”

3And Abraham arose early in the morning, and he saddled his donkey, and he took his two young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for a burnt offering, and he arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

5And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we will prostrate ourselves and return to you.”

6And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and he placed [it] upon his son Isaac, and he took into his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went together.

7And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and he said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8And Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And they both went together.

Remember, Isaac is a miracle child. Hashem provided the egg, Abraham provided the seed.  And Hashem is asking him to be willing to sacrifice this miracle child.  Talk about letting go of your well (see yesterday’s thought on this)!

Abraham was trusting Hashem would appear. Let’s keep going (Genesis 22:9-13):

9And they came to the place of which God had spoken to him, and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and he bound Isaac his son and placed him on the altar upon the wood.

10And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife, to slaughter his son.

11And an angel of God called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

12And he said, “Do not stretch forth your hand to the lad, nor do the slightest thing to him, for now I know that you are a God fearing man, and you did not withhold your son, your only one, from Me.”

13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw, and lo! There was a ram, [and] after [that] it was caught in a tree by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Think of how close to the edge Abraham got. He raised the knife. Death was sinking in. And then. Hashem appeared.

How close do we ever get to the edge?

Here is a personal story. For this moment. Yesterday, my oldest daughter and I were scheduled to take a road trip to my hometown four hours away.  The friends we were going to stay with had a family emergency. Last year this group of friends (who have been a SIGNIFCANT part of my healing journey) held our first “Friendsgiving” ever.  Tonight is our second. I almost wasn’t able to go.

Some friends from the group reached out and offered to put my daughter and I up in a local hotel.  I couldn’t afford this on my own – but they reached out.  The message they sent was “You deserve to be at Friendsgiving.”

I was in tears. I was struggling in the morning because I thought I was going to need to cancel this trip. And they came through. Because they believed I was deserving to be there.

That is healing. These are people I knew when I was 17 and 18. They knew me at my literal worst. My father had died. My mom had mental health issues she was battling. I felt like a pariah.  And these humans saw my humanity and loved me when I couldn’t even love myself.

This is sacrifice. This is love.  This is freedom. This is liberation.

And it could not have happened had I not been vulnerable. I had to take the first step and ask for help.  I reached out to see if anyone else had a place for us to stay.  And this was the response.

Hashem provides. Because we deserve to be here. ALL OF US.

If you feel undeserving – reach out. Hashem provides.  What we need.  But let’s keep going. (Genesis 14-24)

14And Abraham named that place, The Lord will see, as it is said to this day: On the mountain, the Lord will be seen.

My home – West Chester, PA.  My school, Westtown Friends. Hashem Provides. Let’s keep going:

15And an angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven.

16And he said, “By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord, that because you have done this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one,

17That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies.

18And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice.”

19And Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheba; and Abraham remained in Beer sheba.

20And it came to pass after these matters, that it was told to Abraham saying: “Behold Milcah, she also bore sons to Nahor your brother.

21Uz, his first born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel, the father of Aram.

22And Kesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

23And Bethuel begot Rebecca.” These eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

24And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, had also given birth to Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.

After all of this – Hashem demonstrates promise and abundance. Promise and abundance.

Let’s add to our learning:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
• The tree of life is within us. Choose life within with curiosity and not judgment
• Learn to balance the comfort of stumbling, with the challenge of pushing ourselves towards spiritual growth.
• Let go of a stable life. Freedom is accepting “what is” as a blessing. We can’t control what happens. We can only navigate it with bitterness or flow.
• Freedom requires balance – emotions vs intellect, humility vs confidence, thinking as an individual while staying meaningfully connected to others.
• Freedom comes from expansion and not contraction – but contraction is important to the process of expansion
• To live free, we must circumcise the foreskin of past trauma and feel the pain of healing so that our higher selves can appear to us, and we can co-create miraculous NEW life for us and others.
• To be free, we must understand what love requires vs the world around us. 10%.  Just start there. Freedom is seeing the 10% and moving to 11%. Not being trapped by the daunting 90% we feel guilt and shame about.  The 90% is slavery. The 10% is freedom.
• Receive the Universe. Don’t Resist it. This is the path to freedom and liberation.

Today’s lesson – we must be vulnerable and ask for the Universe to provide. And. We don’t need to ask because the Universe knows. This is freedom.

We see in the Haftorah portion this play out:

The first woman asked Elisha for help out of desperation – and abundance was provided.

The second woman didn’t ask and still received a blessing. But then went through losing it, but then got it back.

It’s both/and not either or.

What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from the past two years – it’s super long – be warned!

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Heshvan 18, 5783

Wow. This post on todays portion really hits home. Today we read about the binding of Isaac. And the idea of being tested, I could never have imagined the past year, and how Hashem uses the testing for us to see how much we’ve grown.

The idea of taking it one day at a time; the idea of “beginning again” gets strung together like Pearls on a cherished necklace – to create something within us that brings us to a place of freedom and liberation – free of the past that holds us back from our highest selves.

What are your thoughts?

Torah thoughts for 17 Heshvan 5782

Today is the story of Abraham binding Isaac. It’s an important portion; so much so it’s included in our daily Davening during morning prayers. This passage is a core part of the start of each of our days. As I engage in the passage, my brain is connecting this to the portion.

The portion starts; “God tested Abraham.”

Um. Really? I’m not sure I’m ready for a test. That’s my first thought here.

Nahmanides in the 13th century writes; “When God tests a person, it is for the benefit of the one being tested. Every person has the potential to do great things, to fulfill God’s will or do good deeds. In order to actualize this potential, God tests the person by providing them with a challenge, hoping that through the power of free choice to accomplish the deed, the person’s potential will be realized.

God tests the righteous in order to bestow blessings on them as a reward for passing the His test. However, God does not usually test errant individuals that do not obey Him, and they remain unable to actualize their potential.”

Ok. so that’s a helpful concept. This isn’t like an exam, but a testing to see how far we can go.

This past month, I taught our fourth child (who was 8) how to ride a bike. And I can see what I did was create smaller tests for her to develop confidence. I started with the incentive – if you learn to ride your bike, you’ll get an “LOL surprise.” That was a big thing for her.

The first test was just balancing on her bike down a slow incline.

The second was doing that same thing but putting her feet on the pedals.

With each “test” her confidence grew.

Then I tested her by having her pedal.

The next test was making a single turn.

Then a loop.

Then five circles.

Once she passed each of these tests, she went on the next one.

The final exam is going down the steep hill in front of her house.

After the first day of training she made it past every test but the final two. Keep in mind she didn’t pass the test on the first try. I didn’t push. I encouraged her for passing all the tests. She asked “do I get my LOL surprise?” I said; not yet- but you are SUPER close.

We went home that day and she was thrilled at how far she had come. The next day she IMMEDIATELY wanted to try again to learn more.

We went to our place that’s flat and she finally was able to master five circles on her bike. It took a lot of time, but she did it. And she felt great! Then she asked if she earned her LOL surprise. I explained there was on more test. Going down the steep hill.

She hesitated. I explained going down the hill required the skill of braking. She couldn’t be a full fledged biker if she couldn’t brake.

She took a deep breath and said she’d do it! We went to the top of our street, And she did it!

All of this to say- Hashem’s testing can be framed in our minds as Him pointing out how he’s judging us; and this is a final exam, and we are going to be shown how much we don’t measure up. Or we can see these tests as a marker on our journey to draw closer to Him. How are we framing His “tests?” Also; if we don’t pass a test, do we get dejected and focus on that one thing? Or do we look at the tests we DID pass with excitement and confidence? I’ll confess; I tend to focus on the one I didn’t pass.

For now, I’ll stop here on Torah thoughts. I may do more in the comments below; but I felt like this was a major thing we are supposed to get out of this.

Maybe the reason we read and focus on this story every day is to remind us how Hashem is helping us grow on our journey by giving us “mini tests” to see how far we’ve come? And maybe we aren’t meant to pass every test each day, for the purpose of learning it tomorrow? Maybe these tests are NOT judgments – but mile markers on our journey? Just some thoughts. I’d love yours.

More thoughts on the passage:

Dang. Hashem asking Abraham to sacrifice his son! Talk about tests!

My question; Did Abraham trust Hashem that Isaac wouldn’t die? Or did Abraham trust Hashem that even if Isaac died, there would be another son? Did Abraham know? What went through his mind?

My reaction; no way I’d sacrifice a child. It’s too much! And I think that’s the point. Abraham was asked to be a guiding light to the rest of us. Hashem uses this to remind us that what he is asking us to do daily pales in comparison to asking us to sacrifice a child. That should be encouraging. Anything Hashem needs us to do today? We can always remind ourselves (and be reminded when we Daven) that what Hashem is asking us to do isn’t killing our child. That’s significant.

Hashem promised Abraham that his descendants would come through Isaac. Abraham must have trusted THAT above all else. That had to be what guided him. Knowing that, trusting that, Isaac wouldn’t die. On one hand that’s a lot of faith, on the other? It seems like a natural outpouring of a faith in Hashem.

Hashem doesn’t make us promises like “you will have many descendants through your child” today. There are plenty of other promises he makes.

In fact – we get one in verse 15-18 of chapter 22. “An angel of God called to Abraham a second time from heaven. He said, ‘I myself have sworn’ says God, ‘that because you have done this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one, I will bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. All the nations of the world will be blessed through your children because you listened to My voice.”

Wow. That’s powerful. That’s not a promise that’s conditional. It’s a sworn vow God made because of what Abraham did. Regardless of what Abraham’s descendants do, Hashem is going to take care of us! We will “inherit the cities of our enemies.” How much do I personalize this? How much do I believe I have an inheritance because of what Abraham did?

As Abraham’s children, literal children, we are promised this inheritance. We also have inherited a responsibility as well; to “bless the nations of the world.” My other struggle is maybe sometimes I do believe I have this inheritance; but I don’t recognize my responsibility either. I can develop hubris if I lose sight of this. Take ownership of my inheritance while at the same time honor my responsibility to bless others; to fulfill Hashem’s vow.

It’s odd to think “Hashem needs me.” He’s the creator of the universe- what does he need me for? He needs me because she chose to need me. I can make Hashem a liar by not blessing others – or I can bless others and fulfill his vow. And even if I don’t bless others – there are other descendants of Abraham who will. That brings me comfort- especially when I mess up.

Ok. Final part; Abraham is told about the birth of Rebekah. We track her bloodline. This is important because this will be who Isaac marries.

Ok. That’s a lot more. Would love your thoughts. One more comment below will focus on todays Haftorah.

Haftorah portion; 2 Kings 4:1-37

The Haftorah starts with a story of a desperate woman; whose name we don’t know (which I take to mean this could be any one of us); and she comes to Elisha the prophet because she’s destitute. Her Godly husband just passed away leaving her and her two children to become slaves to Jehoram son of Ahab the creditor.

Elisha asks her “what can I do for you? What do you have in the house upon which a blessing can reside?” All she has is a jug of oil used for anointing.

Elisha tells her to go borrow jugs from her neighbors. He tells her to ask for a LOT of containers. He tells her the jug of oil in her home will be like a fountain.

She does just this, and her jug fills all the jugs she was able to collect- it would have been able to fill even more, except there were no more jugs to fill. She goes back to Elisha and tells him what happened; he tells her to sell the oil to pay her debts, and live off the remaining money.

Whew. That’s something. And as someone who has been out of work for 12 months, I can relate to this. Living in debt is stressful. Especially with kids. The idea of a blessing on something in your home being an unlimited source of income is something incredible! However, the woman ALSO needed the support of her community! Her blessing would only be as much as the jugs she could collect from her neighbors. There is a symbiotic relationship living in Jewish community that happens. This is encouraging in so many ways. We only need to ask for blessing! We need to ask our neighbors for support!

Btw – we are ok right now! Hashem continues to provide in miraculous ways to our family over this past year.

Ok. Next part of the Haftorah;

Elisha meets another unnamed woman, this time “distinguished.” She invited Elisha to eat whenever he passed by. She said to her husband “I realize that the person who comes regularly to us is a holy man of God, so it’s not right that he live in the same quarters as us. Let’s make a small room in the attic…for him so he will stay there in privacy.”

Elisha is so grateful for this, he asks his servant Gehazi to speak to the woman ask her how he can repay her. She tells him she’s good, but Gehazi reports to Elisha that there is actually something to be done; she doesn’t have a son and her husband is too old. Elisha calls the woman back; and tells her she will embrace a son. She responds in disbelief. And yet, the promise is fulfilled. So exciting!!!!

But wait…there’s more. He grows up, and tells his dad that his head hurts. His dad tells people to carry him to his mother. WHERE HE DIED.

She lays him on Elisha’s bed in his private room and closes the door. She doesn’t tell her husband; but asks for a lad and a donkey to go and get Elisha.

Ok. This woman, whoever she is, is a badass. The husband naturally asks why, and she responds with “all is well.” Because she thought it would be better if this happened in secret.

She doubles down on this because Elisha sends his servant to meet her and he asks her if all is well, with her, her husband and her child. She responds “all is well.” She wanted to conceal the matter even from Elisha’s servant!

She gets to Elisha and it all comes pouring out. She grabbed hold of Elisha’s feet. She basically says “it’s not like I asked for a son, when you told me I’d have a son, I said “don’t mislead me.”

Elisha says “buckle up!take my staff and do not stop- go to your son and place it on his face to revive him.”

The woman tells him “I swear to God and your life I’m not leaving you alone if you don’t come with me.” So Elisha, His servant and The woman go. His servant gets there first and puts the staff on his face…

And nothing happened. Because he didn’t follow the instructions. He stopped along the way. He talked about the mission with others. So he returned to Elisha.

Elisha comes to the house; the boy is dead. Then he performs a ritual (I’ll confess it seems a little weird by our contemporary standards). He does this seven times;

1. Prayed to God
2. Climbed on the bed and laid on the child
3. Placed his mouth on the boys mouth, eyes on his eyes, palms on his palms.
4. The boy became warm.
5. Elisha got off the bed and went to the house and walked forward and backwards.

He did this seven times. Then the boy sneezed seven times. Then the boy opened his eyes.

Whoa. Elisha brought someone back from the dead.

My takeaways;

1. Contrasting the two women in this Haftorah – woman one was poor in finances but had two children. She was aware of her needs. She asked for help. She was given help. The other woman was well off but had no children. She was not vocal about her needs. She was given a child and learned about desperation and asking for help. She was brought to the place of needing to ask for help and then received it. Both stories are about our need to ask for help.
2. Not just asking for help; these stories highlight being given help even when we don’t ask. Hashem knows our needs even more than we do.
3. Whether we recognize we are in need or not, blessing others is our purpose; it honors Hashem’s promise to Abraham.

So; how are you blessing others today? That’s my question for all of us!