The Binding of Isaac is one of the most challenging stories in the entire Torah. The opening lines read, “God tested Abraham… ‘Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains.’” Abraham complied unquestioningly.
Abraham took the wood, the knife, and Isaac beside him as they walked up the mountain. Isaac asked, “Where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God will see to the sheep, my son.” When they arrived, Abraham built an altar and bound Isaac. Abraham raised the knife, then a heavenly voice came onto the scene. “Abraham! Abraham!” Abraham answered: “Hineni.” Here I am ready to receive instruction. The angel said: “Do not raise your hand against the boy. Do not do anything to him.”
One way to read this story, to make it more personal and believable, is as a psychological phenomenon that all of us have experienced. Sometimes, our first thought in reaction to something is coming from a place of fear or vulnerability or defensiveness. But if we take a breath and wait for the next thought, it is often coming from a calmer, more genuine place that aligns with our values. In our story, Abraham got a command and said yes. He started to do what was asked of him, but upon further reflection, his better angels got through, and he didn’t sacrifice his child.
I want to suggest that all of us have gone through this psychological process in our relationship with Israel. We were likely raised to believe that Israel is the solution to Jewish people’s fears and vulnerabilities – with a country of our own, we have a guarantee of safety and of belonging. “A land without a people for a people without a land.” And then at some point, an angel, or our conscience, came and whispered something to us.
I invite you all to think about what that second voice sounded like for you – what did your conscience tell you that drove you to take a more values-aligned perspective? And would it be possible to externalize that inner voice? How can we help other people move beyond their sense of fear and vulnerability so that others can evolve in their beliefs about Israel?
– EDITOR’S NOTE: This sermon was the prompt for a discussion among our minyan. It has been adapted to serve as a prompt for reflection by the reader.
