Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
The Book of Bereishit discusses at great length the many trials and challenges our forefathers Avraham (Abraham) and Yaakov (Jacob) faced. Yet, when it comes to Yitzchak (Isaac), we don’t see much about his facing life challenges. In fact, he seemed to have been oblivious to the world around him, blissfully unaware of how wicked his own son Eisav (Esau) was! Was he as great as the other Avot (forefathers)?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
Yitzchak Avinu – Completely Subservient to God
As one of the Avot, Yitzchak Avinu (our forefather Isaac) was exceedingly great, way beyond our comprehension, and in some ways, even greater than the other Avot. And although the Torah tells us very little about his life, from these few incidents, we can see some of his greatness.
One of the greatest tests Avraham faced was Akeidat Yitzchak, the binding of Yitzchak on the altar, when he demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice even his beloved son for the sake of Hashem (God). Yet in some ways, Yitzchak’s sacrifice was even greater. Avraham was following a command he had received directly from Hashem, and was not giving up his own life. Yitzchak, on the other hand, was ready to give up his very life, and placed his complete trust in his father, even without hearing anything directly from Hashem.
And this was not merely a one-time test that he passed. Through his total subservience to Hashem at the akeidah (binding), Yitzchak reached the highest levels of sanctity, and was considered an olah temimah – a complete offering, and even forbidden to leave the Holy Land. For the rest of his life he was completely devoted to the service of Hashem, with every fiber of his being, every moment of his life, totally crushing his evil inclination. Because of this total subservience to the will of Hashem, according to Kabbalistic writings, Yitzchok represents the attribute of gevurah – spiritual strength.
To Protect Him Against the Mundane
Recognizing the lofty level of her husband, Rivkah (Rebecca) undertook the mission to facilitate this holy occupation, fiercely shielding Yitzchak from the mundane world, or from even the slightest distraction in his service of Hashem. She therefore withheld from Yitzchak any information about the wickedness of their son Eisav, as such knowledge may have disturbed his holy work.
Lessons in Interpersonal Relationships
And not only did Yitzchak reach the pinnacle of spirituality, he also excelled in his interpersonal relationships. In Parshat Toldot, Avimelech, King of Gerar, tells Yitzchak to leave the country after the Philistines began to envy his immense wealth. Later, after seeing that Hashem was with Yitzchak, Avimelech had a change-of-heart, and approached Yitzchak, requesting a treaty. Although Avimelech and his people had treated him terribly, Yitzchak accepted their proposal and even treated them to a feast, even calling them brothers.
This character trait is discussed by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero in his classic sefer Tomer Devorah. He describes at length the 13 attributes of Hashem, and explains how every Jew is commanded to follow these lofty ways, and conduct himself according to these attributes. Rabbi Cordovero writes that, just as Hashem pushes aside His anger even when we sin, we must do the same, and not bear a grudge against those who harm us, even though we may be right. He adds that just as Hashem accepts our teshuvah (repentance), we must also be willing to “forgive and forget,” and refresh our friendship with those who may have harmed us. This is another powerful lesson that we can learn from the life of Yitzchak Avinu.
In short: As one of our Patriarchs, Yitzchak was exceedingly great. He was completely devoted to serving Hashem, and also excelled in interpersonal relationships, and we have so much to learn from him.
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