Vayera: Chapter 36

"And he saw the place afar off"

Synopsis

As Abraham walks with Isaac to the place of sacrifice, Abraham is granted a clear vision of his future grandson, Jacob, the predestined son of Isaac. Abraham perceives the important role that Jacob will play in the world; nonetheless, he remains true to his commitment to sacrifice his son, despite his compelling vision. Abraham surrenders total control, placing all his trust in the Creator's words.

Relevance

Man's nature is to succumb to the temptations of the material world, to give in to the lure of immediate gratification at the expense of long-term fulfillment. The wisdom and strength to place our trust in the spiritual laws of life and relinquish control to the Creator are granted to our soul. This portion allows the radiance of the Creator to enlighten and direct us along the darkened corridors of life.

Abraham Eyes Isaac Jacob

495. "On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off" (Beresheet 22:4). The meaning of "on the third day" has already been explained, but since it has already been stated, "And he rose up and went to the place of which the Elohim had told him" (Ibid. 3), ONE SHOULD ASK why does it then say, "On the third day...and he saw the place afar off?" WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS REPETITION? HE REPLIES, It is written, "For in Isaac shall your seed be called" (Beresheet 21:12), because Jacob came from him. ISAAC IS THE SECRET OF THE LEFT COLUMN, WHICH HAS NO EXISTENCE WITHOUT THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH IS JACOB. And, he is called "the third day," BECAUSE ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET, WHICH ARE CALLED 'THREE DAYS.' THUS, JACOB, WHO IS TIFERET, IS EQUIVALENT TO THE THIRD DAY. THIS IS WHY HE LOOKED FOR JACOB, WHO IS THE CAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ISAAC.

495. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂ"א אַבְרָהָ"ם אֶ"ת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, אֶלָּא, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְּמָר, וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים, מַאי טַעְמָא, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק. אֶלָּא, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב, כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע. וְדָא הוּא יַעֲקֹב, דְּנָפַק מִנֵּיהּ. וְהַאי הוּא בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי.

Abraham Grades Jacob Jeremiah Stones

496. The words, "and saw the place afar off," are similar to, "from afar off has Hashem appeared to me" (Yirmeyah 31:3), WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN. The phrase, "and he saw the place" refers to Jacob, of whom it is written, "and he took of the stones of that place" (Beresheet 28:11). SO Abraham looked into the "third day," which is the third grade, NAMELY TIFERET, and there he saw Jacob, who was to issue from him. BUT "afar off" MEANS at some distant time, as we have already explained, rather than in the near future.

496. וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק. כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר מֵרָחוֹק יי' נִרְאָה לִי. וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם. דָּא הוּא יַעֲקֹב, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּקַּח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם. אִסְתַּכַּל אַבְרָהָם, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי דְּאִיהוּ דַרְגָּא תְּלִיתָאָה, וְחָמָא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, דְּזַמִּין לְמֵיפַק מִנֵּיהּ. מֵרָחוֹק, כְּמָה דַאֲמָרָן, מֵרָחוֹק, וְלָא לִזְמַן קָרִיב.

Abraham Isaac Jacob Praise Sacrifice

497. Rabbi Elazar said to him, What is Abraham praised for, as he already saw that Jacob was destined to issue from him? Since he was on his way to sacrifice Isaac, this cannot be such a great praise for him. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE BECAUSE THIS MUST HAVE BROUGHT SOME DOUBT INTO HIS MIND ABOUT THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. IF HE IS ABOUT TO OFFER HIM AS A SACRIFICE, HOW THEN WILL JACOB BE BORN?

497. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, מַאי שִׁבְחָא אִיהוּ לְאַבְרָהָם, כַּד אִסְתַּכַּל, וְחָמָא דְּזַמִּין לְמֵיפַק, מִנֵּיהּ יַעֲקֹב. דְּהָא כַּד אָזֵיל לְמֶיעֱקַד לֵיהּ לְיִצְחָק, לָאו שִׁבְחָא כָּל כָּךְ אִיהוּ דִילֵיהּ.

Abraham Flow Grades Isaac Jacob Mochin Sacrifice Wisdom

498. He said to him, It is certain that he saw Jacob, because even before THE SACRIFICE, Abraham had knowledge of wisdom. THIS MEANS THAT HE HAD ALREADY ATTAINED THE SUPERNAL MOCHIN THAT FLOW OVER THE THREE COLUMNS, THE THIRD COLUMN OF WHICH IS JACOB. So now he looked into the "third day," which is the third grade, TIFERET, to draw perfection from it - THAT IS, TO COMPLETE HIS MOCHIN, BECAUSE PERFECTION CANNOT BE REACHED EXCEPT THROUGH THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Then THE SCRIPTURES SAY THAT he saw Jacob, as it is written, "and he saw the place," MEANING HE SAW THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH IS CALLED JACOB. But this still remained "afar off" from him, AS HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE IT NOW. He was on his way to bind Isaac and did not wish to have any doubts about the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO TOLD HIM TO OFFER ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE. AND THEREFORE, HE DID NOT ACHIEVE THE CENTRAL COLUMN COMPLETELY, AS IS FURTHER EXPLAINED.

498. אָמַר לוֹ וַדַּאי חָמָא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא, יָדַע אַבְרָהָם חָכְמְתָא, וְאִסְתַּכַּל הַשְׁתָּא, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, דְּאִיהוּ דַרְגָּא תְּלִיתָאָה, לְמֶעְבַּד שְׁלִימוּ, וּכְדֵין חָמָא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, דִּכְתִיב וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם. אֲבָל הַשְׁתָּא, קַיְימָא לֵיהּ מִלָּה מֵרָחוֹק, בְּגִין דְּאָזֵיל לְמֶיעֱקַד לֵיהּ לְיִצְחָק, וְלָא בָּעָא לְהַרְהֵר אֲבַתְרֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Abraham Mirror

499. The words "afar off" MEAN THAT he only saw him through a clouded mirror, which is why he did not see him clearly. If the illuminating mirror had been over the opaque mirror, then Abraham would have grasped him properly, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THUS, ABRAHAM SAW HIM only from "afar off."

499. מֵרָחוֹק: חָמָא לֵיהּ, גּוֹ אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְּלָא נָהֲרָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, חָמָא לֵיהּ, וְלָא אִתְגְּלֵי כֹּלָּא, דְּאִלּוּ אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְנַהֲרָא, הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ, עַל הַאי אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְּלָא נַהֲרָא, אִתְקַיַּים עֲלֵיהּ אַבְרָהָם, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, אֲבָל מֵרָחוֹק בִּלְחוֹדוֹי הֲוָה, מֵרָחוֹק.

Abraham Grades Jacob Mirror

500. AND HE ASKS, Why did the clear shining mirror disappear? AND HE REPLIES, Because this is the grade of Jacob, and as Jacob was not yet born, his aspect was not yet present over this grade. Furthermore, it disappeared so that Abraham could go AND BIND HIS SON and receive his reward. SO ACCORDINGLY, "he saw the place afar off" MEANS THAT HE SAW Jacob, as is explained, "afar off," MEANING THAT he did not reach him.

500. מַאי טַעְמָא אִסְתַּלַּק, מֵהַאי מֵלָּה, אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאה דְּנַהֲרָא בְּגִין דְּהַאי, דַּרְגָּא דְּיַעֲקֹב הֲוָה, וּבְגִין דְּיַעֲקֹב עַד לָא אִתְיְילִיד, לָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח הַשְׁתָּא עַל הַאי דַרְגָא. וְתוּ, בְּגִין דִּיהַךְ וִיקַבֵּל אַגְרָא. וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחוֹק. דָּא יַעֲקֹב, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר מֵרָחוֹק, דְּלָא זָכָה בֵּיהּ.

Abraham Altar Isaac Jacob

501. The verse, "And they came to the place which the Elohim had told him of" (Beresheet 22:9) implies that even though he had the ability to "see" Jacob, Abraham said that the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO TOLD HIM TO BIND ISAAC, certainly knows another way to achieve this end. So immediately, "Abraham built an altar there," WHICH MEANS THAT EVEN THOUGH HE SAW THAT ISAAC WOULD BEAR JACOB, HE HAD NO DOUBTS ABOUT THE COMMANDS OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. AND BECAUSE OF HIS TRUST IN THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, HE BUILT AN ALTAR.

501. וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים וגו'. רְמִיז הָכָא, דְּאַף עַל גָּב דְּאָתוּ לְהַהוּא רְאִיָּיה, וְחָמָא לְיַעֲקֹב, אֲמַר אַבְרָהָם, וַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָדַע בְּגַוְונָא אָחֳרָא דְּאִתְחֲזֵי, מִיָּד וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וגו'.

Abraham Isaac Judgment Mercy

502. But before this, it is written, "And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, 'My father...'" (Ibid. 7) which has already been explained. But why did he not reply to him at all? AND HE REPLIES, Because Abraham ceased to have the mercy of a father towards his son. INSTEAD, THE ATTRIBUTE OF JUDGMENT CAME UPON HIM. THIS IS THE REASON WHY HE DID NOT ANSWER HIM THE FIRST TIME. Thus, it is written, "Here I am, my son." "Here I am," AS IF TO SAY - the Mercy has gone and changed into Judgment.

502. מַה כְּתִיב לְעֵילָא, וַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִי, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל מַאי טַעְמָא, לָא אָתֵיב לֵיהּ מִיָּד. אֶלָא, בְּגִין דְּהָא אִסְתַּלַּק, מֵרַחֲמֵי דְאַבָּא עַל בְּרָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כְּתִיב הִנֶּנִּי בְנִי, הִנֶּנִּי דְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ רַחֲמֵי, וְאִתְהַפַּךְ לְדִינָא.

Abraham Isaac Lambs Offering

503. Note that it is written, "And Abraham said," rather than "And his father said." This is because he was no longer like a father, but had become an adversary. Of the verse, "Elohim will provide himself a lamb," HE SAID, It should have been written, 'will provide us' and not "Himself." AND HE REPLIES THAT he said to him, Elohim will provide for His own needs at the appropriate time. Now, my son, and not the lamb, IS THE OFFERING. Immediately, it is written, "They went both of them together," WHICH MEANS THAT ISAAC FOLLOWED THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.

503. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם, וְלָא כְתִיב, וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִיו. דְּהָא לָא קָאֵים עֲלֵיהּ כְּאַבָּא, אֶלָּא בַּעַל מַחְלוֹקֶת, הֲוָה בֵּיהּ. אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לוֹ הַשֶּׂה. יִרְאֶה לָנוּ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי יִרְאֶה לוֹ. אֶלָּא, אָמַר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לוֹ לְגַרְמֵיהּ, כַּד אִיהוּ יִצְטְרִיךְ, אֲבָל הַשְׁתָּא בְּנִי, וְלָא אִמְרָא. מִיָּד וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו.

Altar Angels Blessing Isaac Peace

504. Rabbi Shimon began with the verse, "Behold, the mighty ones shall cry outside, ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly" (Yeshayah 33:7). In this verse, "the mighty ones (also: 'angels')" are the celestial angels who cried out at the time WHEN ISAAC WAS BOUND UPON THE ALTAR and wanted the Holy One, blessed be He, to remember and fulfill the promise in the verse, "And He took him outside" (Beresheet 15:5), WHICH ALLUDES TO THE BLESSING OF HIS OFFSPRING. Therefore, it IS WRITTEN, They "shall cry outside".

504. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, פָּתַח וְאָמַר, הֵן אֶרְאֶלָם צָעֲקוּ חוּצָה מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם מַר יִבְכָּיוּן. הֵן אֶרְאֶלָם, אִלֵּין מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי. צָעֲקוּ, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, וּבְעוֹ לְקַיְימָא, עַל הַהִיא מִלָּה, דִּכְתִיב, וַיּוֹצֵא אוֹתוֹ הַחוּצָה. בְּגִין כָּךְ, צָעֲקוּ חוּצָה.

Abraham Angels Isaac Jacob Peace

505. "...Ambassadors of peace" are other angels, who were destined to walk in front of Jacob. For Jacob's sake, the Holy One, blessed be He, promised them perfection, as it is written, "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of Elohim met him" (Beresheet 32:2). These are called the 'Angels of Peace,' and they all wept as they saw Abraham binding Isaac. The upper and lower beings trembled and shook for the sake of Isaac.

505. מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם. אִלֵּין אִינוּן מַלְאָכִין אָחֳרָנִין, דַּהֲווֹ זְמִינִין, לְמֵיהַךְ קַמֵּיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, וּבְגִינֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, אַבְטַח לוֹן שְׁלִימוּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בּוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים. וְאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם, כֻּלְּהוּ בָּכוּ, כַּד חָמוּ לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם, דְּעָקֵיד לֵיהּ לְיִצְחָק, וְאִזְדַּעְזְעוּ עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי, וְכֻלְּהוּ עֲלֵיהּ דְּיִצְחָק.

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