The Akeida is looked upon in Jewish thought as one of the seminal moments for the Jewish people. On Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Hadin, we ask Hashem to remember the Akeida. It is considered to be one of the greatest tests that a person can pass.
However, when you really think about it what was so special about the Akeida? Hashem spoke to Avraham and told him to do it. Avraham listened. We find throughout Jewish history that Jews have accepted their own martydom as well as their childrens without hearing Hashem speak directly to them. Was Avraham's test greater then what we describe in the Kinos about the brother and sister who were going to be sold as sex slaves dying in each other's arms? Was it greater then parents killing their children during the crusades rather then losing them to Christianity? Was it greater then what went on in the holocaust? All of these things happened at a time of הסתר פנים, not only didn't Hashem talk to these people and tell them to do it, Hashem was not visible at all. If anything, that makes their actions much greater then Avrahams.
The same question can be asked about Yosef's nisayon with Potiphar's wife. Yes, Yosef resisted sexual temptation, but so do so many other people. Sexual temptation is מעשים בכל יום, why is Yosef called a צדיק for that?
The only answer that I have seen is a mystical one that Avraham's (and Yosef's) actions are what made it so much easier for everyone else. They are the ones who pulled this strength down from heaven and made it available to everyone. without them paving the way no one would be able to pass any of these tests.
As with many mystical explanations you either believe or you don't. I don't. Additionally, there is a rationalist tradition in Judaism (e.g. Rambam and others) and they certainly would not accept this explanation. The problem is there is no rationalist answer.
When did the akeida become such a big deal, and in which parts of the world? The akeida in Christian theology is seen as prefiguring the crucifixion, and I wonder if that influenced its importance in Jewish thought.
ReplyDeleteWas Isaac really sacrificed ? Hear me out - Genesis 22:16 - thou hast done this thing - not withheld thy son. Well, actually if Abraham did not sacrifice Isaac he did not do much of anything. He only bound Isaac and could have been pretending he would sacrifice Isaac. The kicker is verse 19 - only Abraham returns ! Another kicker is verse 20, the sudden rash of births. If we are dealing with a fertility god this all makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the "it makes it easier for everyone else" a mystical argument at all. I simply thought it meant that everyone else learned the trait from the story of the akaida, which made it doable for them. (Just to be clear I'm not saying made it easy or even easier, but the point is that the akeida is the archetypal sacrifice story. the very fact that it dominates so much in our liturgy and upbringing surely has an effect of making dying al kidush Hashem something to emulate.)
ReplyDeleteThe reason it dominates so much is because it is the "first". Just like the first person to do anything gets all the attention, even if others do it later.
Makes perfect sense to me; i don't get your question at all.