Dvar Torah Akedah
Dvar Torah Rosh Hashanah 2004/5765
L'Shana Tovah
Rosh Hashanah 5765. What a pleasure it is to share this day with my community. We celebrate the New Year. In fact we celebrate the creation of the world. This year may we continue to work towards healing the world, Tikkun Olam. What could be a more fitting commitment on the day we celebrate the world's creation than to heal the world! I am so glad to be here.
This is the time G-d judges us for another year. We pray that He is merciful. Have we been good? Have we listened inside for the voice directing us to heal the world, Tikkun Olam; to do our best; to be kind; to be compassionate; to be merciful? Will G-d temper his justice with mercy?
Have we listened to the voice of justification inside; the one justifying our pettiness and revenge? That voice that says, "I have been hurt, therefore I am justified in hurting you back - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
We all know the Torah portion for today from Genesis or Bereshith - The Binding of Isaac, the Akedah. This is the story of Abraham and the supreme test of faith that G-d put to him. It is fitting to hear a story of Abraham, the father of Judaism; on the day we celebrate the creation of the world.
Abraham heard G-d's voice inside telling him to take his beloved son Isaac to Mt Moriah and to sacrifice Isaac. This was the son that Abraham did not have until he was 100 years old and Sarah 90. This was the son that they were so overjoyed to have. This was their son still living at home at the age of 37, but that is another story for another time.
Abraham was a special man. A man who was renowned for kindness, who would invite strangers into his home for food and shelter, who brought the message of the One G-d to so many neighbors and strangers. This was the Abraham who pleaded and negotiated with G-d not to destroy...
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