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G-d Tested Avraham © 

Limood 

Bereisheit [Genesis] 22.1 - 24

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Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. George Belk, Mrs Ethel Channah Sakash Belk Mr. Arnold Student Litman  may they rest in peace.

  Gen. 22:1

 µh...-r:b]a'Ata, hS...`nI µyhi+løa'h...¢w" hL,ae+h; µyrI∞b;D"h' r~j'a' yhi%y"w"

.ynINEêhi rm,aOYìw" µh...`r:b]a' wyl;+ae rm,aOY§w"

Dear Ones most of us know that G-d Tested Avraham.  Notice Words 5 - 8.  hS;nI, Nee Sawh, means to test, to try, to examine.  This is what G-d as Judge of the universe required of Avraham.  Sefer HaYashar, The Midrash Says, Midrash Rabbah and Midrash Tanchuma each comment that G-d Tested Avraham.

Sefer HaYashar 

Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.8

Midrash Rabba

Rabbi Dr. H. Freedman, Midrash Rabba (New York, NY: The Soncino Press 1983) pp 482-503

The Midrash Says

Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says (Brooklyn, New York:  Benei Yakov Publications 1980), pp 192-206

Metsudah Midrash Tanchuma Bereishis 1

Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Midrash Tanchuma Bereishis 1 (Monsey, NY Eastern Book Press Inc. 2005) pp 295-297

The Weekly Midrash

The Weekly Midrash Vol. 1 Bereisheit / Shemot (Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, N.Y. 2003), pp 152 -156

Midrash Rabba Says, The [L-rd] trieth the righteous, etc. (Ps.XI,5)... The L-rd Does Not test the wicked but only the righteous as it says, 'The [L-rd] trieth the righteous.' R. Eleazar said: When a man possesses two cows, one strong and the other feeble, upon which does he put the yoke?  Surely upon the righteous, as it says, The [L-rd] trieth the righteous.  Another interpretation: The [L-rd] trieth the righteous alludes to Abraham as it says, THAT [G-D] DID PROVE ABRAHAM.  pp 482, 483

Midrash Tanchuma Says [G-d Tested] Avrohom Tehillim 11.5  p296

There are a number of important points to notice about Avraham.

Avram Breaks His Father, Terach's, idols with an ax

The city was named after an incident between Avraham, his father Terach, a brother Charan, and King Nimrod. Avram {Avraham} broke all his father's idols - which were many- with an ax. He then left the ax in the hand of the largest idol and told his father that the largest idol had destroyed all the other idols. This was of course untrue. Terach realized the senselessness of Avram's story. He knew idols could not do what Avram claimed. Avraham used this to try to persuade his father to believe in the One true G-d. Terach refused. Terah took his son Avram before King Nimrod. Avram repeated the story to King Nimrod. He also knew idols could not do what Avram claimed. Avram used this incident to share about Hashem, the One true G-d, with King Nimrod.  http://www.jewishpath.org/gematriaintheendofdays.html

Abraham's [discovers G-d]

...his efforts to publicize the existence of [G-d] to the people of Ur Kasdim...forced  [a confrontation with] Nimrod, the regional monarch, and this resulted in Abraham's miraculous deliverance from [Ur Kasdim, i.e.] Nimrod's fiery furnace. This well-known incident is vital to our understanding of Abraham's character, for it illustrates Abraham's staunch devotion to the truth of [G-d's Existence], and it helps us understand why [G-d Chose] Abraham to disseminate His [Knowledge] to mankind. We can perceive the depth of Abraham's devotion to [G-d] when we realize that Abraham had no foreknowledge of [G-d's] intent to rescue him from the furnace, [See Nehemiah 9.7] http://www.jewishstudies.org/book/samplelesson.htm

Bereisheit 12.1,2

Avram leaves his land

Avraham leaves his birthplace

Avram leaves his father's house

Bereisheit 12

Avram went as Hashem had told him...

Avram built Altars to Hashem...

Avram separates from Lot

Bereisheit 14

Avram rescue Lot and all the people and cattle taken by the five kings

Avram tithed a 10th of everything

Avraham had thousands of servants / converts

Bereisheit 15

Avram agrees to Hashem's covenant

Bereisheit 16

Sarai gives Hagar to Avram for a wife

Hagar has Yishmael

Bereisheit 17

On the very day Avraham was commanded to receive circumcision  Avraham circumcised himself and the males in his household

Bereisheit 18

Hashem Appears Spiritually to Avraham three days after his circumcision

Three guest Appear before Avraham

Avram runs toward them, greets them, invites them for a meal

Avram hurries to Sarai's tent to have her prepare matzoh

Avraham ran to his cattle and took a choice calf

Avram receives the promise of a son at this same time {Pesach] next year

Avraham pleads for the righteous in Sedom

Bereisheit 19

Avraham got up early in the morning, Avraham saw heavy smoke rising from Sedom 

Bereisheit 20

Avraham journeyed from there

Sarah is taken by Avimelech to be his wife and Hashem Protects her

Avraham prayers for Avimelech so he and his country people will again be able to have children

Bereisheit 21

Yitzchok was born, he grew, he was weaned, Avraham made a great feast

Sari says drive out this bond woman and her son for the son of this slave woman will not inherit with my son, with Yitzchok

Avraham was trouble but obeyed

Avraham got up early in the morning and ejected Hagar and Yishmael

Avraham gave Hagar and Yishmael words of direction, a water pouch and bread

Bereisheit 22

Avraham is tested buy G-d

Avraham awoke early

Avraham saddled his donkey

Avraham split wood for the offering

Avraham offered Yitzchok as a sacrifice

Avraham learns that Rivkah the wife intended for Yitzchok was born

Bereisheit 23

Avraham mourns Sarah's death

Avraham the cave at Machpeilah

Bereisheit 24

Avraham calls for his most trusted servant and makes him swear regarding taking a wife for Yitzchok

Avraham instructs the servant

Bereisheit 25

Avraham takes Hagar back as Keturah for his wife

Avraham has nine children by her

Avraham gave them gifts and sent them away

Avraham dies at 175 years of age in peace.

What is the point to each of these stories?

Avraham was a righteous man.  Avraham was a Novie / Prophet.  Notice how Avraham did things.  Notice how careful Avraham was in his Observances.  Only the righteous are tested.  We may feel like we are tested but too often we are ONLY SUFFERING FROM OUR OWN SINS!  Avraham did Mitzvot.  We do Mitzvot.  Avraham is VERY RIGHTEOUS we are not?  Why?  Avraham was tried by G-d the Judge.  Usually we are not?  Why?  

It is the different way in which we do our Observances.  The only time the word  hS;nI, Nee Sawh, tested in Ha Torah like this is when Ha Torah Records,  G-d Tested Avraham.  Our sages tie the righteous to tests.  Our sages say G-d Only tests the righteous.  Why is this?  The righteous are strong.  We are weak!  If we were tested as Avraham and Dovid Ha Melech and B'nei Yisroel in the BaMidbar were tested we would fail.  Tests are designed to show the strength of the material, of the auto, of the jet of loving G-d or righteousness...

The Gematria of the word    hS;nI, Nee Sawh, to be tested is 115.  qz...j;, Haw Zawk meaning strength is 115.  The immediacy of Avraham in each of these examples is like the last Word in Bereisheit 22.1, ynInEhi, Hee Nay Nee, 'I am ready'.  How many times have we NOT been immediate like Avraham?  How many times have we drug our self to do a Mitzvah instead of hurrying?  How many times did we just not do the Mitzvah?  That is the difference between Avraham and us.  Avraham and the righteous have a higher self!  Only the strong can reach these levels.  Only the strong can endure these tests.

\Nee Saw / To be tested

115 = h5 s60 n50

Haw zawk To be strong, to have strength 

115 = q100 z7 j8

Hee Nay Nee / I am ready!

115 = y10 n50 n50 h5

What is the point?  The word for Sold is πWg, Goof meaning soul or body.  Whenever Ha Torah is translated from Hebrew to English and the world 'self' is used we are reminded that the word πWg, Goof  does NOT OCCUR EVEN ONE TIME IN Ha Tenach.  Instead the word used for self is Nefesh. Why is this?  This is to remind us that just as the Word πWg, Goof  is invisible in Ha Torah it must be invisible in us.  In  other Words in the Words of Mishnah, NUllify your will in the face of His Will, so that He Will nullify the will of others in the face of your will, Avot 2.4 The sages teach that Often a person performs Commandments, but angrily or begrudgingly, as through duress... Rabban Gamliel thus Teaches us to serve Him willingly, so that He in turn will do our will willingly.... In other Words treat your own will as if it were His Will.  I.e. one should liv e only for the sake of Heaven and perform even mundane affairs for the sake of Heaven....  Mishnah Volume IV(Mesorah Publications, LTD, Brooklyn, N.Y 11232 First Edition 2007, First Impression ) p 111

The full essence for the Word πWg, Goof is 166.  When we lift our self up ˆwOyl"[,, Eh Lee Yoon, meaning to lift ones self up on high, there is only one place for our prideful self to go Wlp]n: Naw Feh Loo, meaning to be fallen.  So the point is to take the self, the prideful self, the high and might self , the haughty self out of our being so that we will have a righteous being and be free to love G-d and serve G-d as our Father Avraham did.

166 =  81 = a1 p80  -  12= w6 w6  -  73 = l30 m40g3

166 = ˆ50 w6 y10 l30 [70

166 = w6 l30 p80 n50

The prayer for each of us is not to be self empowering but  to be soul empowering as our father Avraham and mother Sarah were.

Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

Before discussing changes in American I would like to congratulate President elect Barack Obama for winning the presidential race.  I pray that President Elect Obama will be the best President America has had.  Please!  G-d Keep our President Elect safe!

 

Political Change

We are at the threshold of CHANGE! We are facing change here at home and in the world, we share with others.  At home, we voted for political change. Yesterday that change began. Today that change continues.  Part of the change we need is patching things up with the other political parties.  We need each other.  We need each other's cooperation.  Our government needs to function.

 

Attitude Change

Americans need a change in attitude. We need a change in attitude with each other and with our world neighbors. With each other has to do with our relationships.  I strongly dislike the lying and smearing during the presidential campaign. Many positions were misrepresented.  That is not good.  There are many ways to look a picture but adding items [opinions] to a picture that do not exist is wrong! I frequently spoke out against many falsehoods and smears. I presented and referenced facts that told more that one side to a story if I found what some call partial truths. A partial truth misses facts which can results in a lie.  So it is important how we tell the story... how we represent the issues...

 

Consumption Change

Americans need a change in consumption. Everyone knows that world resources have limits yet Americans carelessly waste valuable resources.  Here are a few examples:

 

1.) Those that can afford larger autos, homes etc should be cautious.  Honestly, displays of affluence should be replaced with practicality.  Big homes and autos consume more than is practical or necessary.  Our common goal should be to reduce energy consumption.  All of us should set a goal to reduce our energy consumption by 10% - 15%.

 

2.) Cloths, household items etc are important BUT they use world resources.  We have allowed ourselves to slip into a through away society.  Demands for quality have slipped.  We purchase cheaper goods.  This results in an increase in consumption.   We need to return to the idea and practices of making goods last.  We need to be frugal.  We need to be practical.  We need to allow ourselves to be inconvenienced.  We can get by without many household appliances, tools etc.  Frankly, how many pairs of shoes, slacks, skirts etc do we need?  How many unnecessary doubles do we own?

 

3.) Throwing away items increases prices and consumption.  Today we use plastic milk bottles.  We use-to-use glass bottles that were reused hundreds of times. Paper tissues replaced handkerchiefs. Paper towels replaced kitchen towels.

 

Stabilization Change

Change is necessary for the continuity of humankind and the stability earth! We are a part of a much larger picture.  Issues we face in our country are part of the world's issues.  We are part of a worldwide economy!  We are part of a world that is suffering from global warming.  IT IS VERY SERIOUS!  We need greater global awareness than we receive from our daily news!  We can voluntary begin reducing our consumption or the costs of goods will pressure us too.  We need to restructure our thought as we have learned to do with recycling.

 

Part of change has to do with changing our consumption products. I hope that the new administration will make auto conversions from gas to propane easy to obtain and affordable.  Natural gas is a common and plentiful resource in America.  Homes and businesses should be moved from heating oil to natural gas, wind powered electricity and solar ASAP.  Solar and wind are two of our greatest natural resources.

 

World Relationship Change

We need to change how we interaction with nations of the world.  We must shed our bully image!  Americans must heighten our respect for other nations of the world.  This must begin at home with us.

 

I remember something Dad would say to his sons upon there leaving elementary school, upon there going to middle school, upon their graduation from high school, upon there going to college or upon there entering the military , etc. Dad would say, 'Son you're closing a chapter in the Book of Life and opening another.' Yesterday Americans began closing a chapter in American history / world history and opening another, John McCain said in his concession speech, My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey.  The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clear.

Leadership Change

The part of the chapter that must close the part of the journey that MUST COME TO AN END is the bickering, the lying the smearing the false representation , etc., of each other.  We need a large dose of appreciation and regard for people who think differently in our own country and in our world.  We MUST COME TOGETHER and work together for the common good of all humankind.  Regardless of whom we supported for President of the United States or Congress we must seek common ground.  We must find ways under our new leadership to make our country and our world a better place for all people... Senator McCain continued, A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him. To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans...

 

We MUST carry Senator McCain's attitude and of coming together further. A little later President Elect Obama said after an overwhelming victory in his acceptance speech,  And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

 

There are many leaks in the dam holding back worldwide depression, starvation, poverty, war and global destruction IN ADDITION to our own problems at home.  I believe President Elect Obama's temperament is especially prepared for times like these. Lets surround and support our new President elect with prayer, cooperation and encouragement.

 

Blessings and peace,

 

Dr. Akiva Gamliel