“Avraham returned … and together they set out and went to Beer Sheva.” (22:19)
“Together” meaning … on the same spiritual level. When Avraham Avinu returned from the Akeidah he felt a certain distress. He had wanted so badly to slaughter his son for Hashem’s sake with love and hadn’t succeeded. The angel had prevented him. His feeling was: What did I accomplish? I could have offered Yitzchak but here he is alive and well. True I received promises of good from Hashem but I didn’t merit to do an Akeidah!
Hashem said to him: “That’s how it seems to you but to Me Yitzchak’s ashes are bound upon the altar. To Me he was slaughtered and burnt.” And on the strength of this merit the Jewish People live until the end of days. (Tiferes Shimshon al HaTorah — Rav Shimshon Pincus)
Last Motzaei Shabbos a germ of an idea was planted in my mind and all week it’s been sprouting leaves and blooming beautifully: This coming week I will welcome Shabbos rested and joyful — not as always: pressured amid pots and towels and a last-minute swipe at the kitchen floor. I will light candles ten minutes early after a restful nap having completed all preparations early. This Shabbos will be truly a Shabbos of peace.
Create a free account to keep reading.
