Vayera
The sedra of Vayera establishes Isaac as Abraham's heir in his role as messenger of the uniqueness of the One God.
Abraham had at different times assumed on three other people as his heirs - first his nephew Lot, then his steward Eliezer and also his son by Hagar, Ishmael. Vayera charts Isaac's life from his birth till his proving himself at the Akedah - the Binding of Isaac - as the main spiritual heir of Abraham.
In last week's sedra, Lot had already proved himself to be too materialistic. In Vayera, Lot showed himself to be immoral as well. Protecting his male guests from men who wished to rape them, he offered his daughters instead to the mob. After the destruction of Sodom, those same daughters decided to repopulate the world through their father. The dot above 'oovkumah' (Ch.19 v.33) suggests Lot became aware of his daughters' arrangements and did nothing to prevent the sin of incest taking place a second time.
Eliezer, of who we know only good, was similarly not to become the heir, as God made clear that a child of Abraham's would be. The birth of Ishmael when Abraham was 86 seemed to confirm him as that heir. However, before Isaac's birth, God told Abraham that Isaac will be the heir.
Eliezer and Ishmael were different from Lot. Ishmael, although wild and dangerous, repented, according to the Midrash. So, why was Isaac to be the spiritual heir rather than them? On their way to the Akedah, Abraham and Isaac were accompanied by two 'lads', credited by the Midrash as Eliezer and Ishmael. They were unable to see the cloud representing the Divine above Mt. Moriah, and so Abraham told them to remain with the asses while he and Isaac ascended the mountain. The Midrash also relates that while waiting for Abraham, Eliezer and Ishmael assumed that Isaac had been sacrificed and each pressed his claim to the other to take over the inheritance.
Isaac earned the inheritance. His behaviour at the Akedah confirmed his appropriateness. A young man, he could have overpowered or outpaced his father rather than submit himself to be bound to the altar. However, his faith in God and in Abraham as God's messenger was more to him than his safety. His survival gave Jews through the centuries optimism that however difficult times were, the Jewish people will survive.
This Thursday 15 Cheshvan (13 November), the 70th Hebrew anniversary of Kristallnacht, we recall Isaac's faith in his and our future.
Rabbi Meir Salasnik is minister of Bushey United Synagogue.
