One, using "pshat" and "midrash" that we have studied in class.
Use either the Bamidbar (The Scouts or Moses Strikes the Rock)
or Vayikra (Holiness Codes Texts)
One, from Shmot or Devarim, where you will use the pshat that we have studied,
a midrash that you must find, and your own personal midrash.
Use either the Bamidbar (The Scouts or Moses Strikes the Rock)
or Vayikra (Holiness Codes Texts)
One, from Shmot or Devarim, where you will use the pshat that we have studied,
a midrash that you must find, and your own personal midrash.
Add the "pshat text" (2 or 3 pasukim) that you will be creating this Source Sheet for here. Add the text in both Hebrew and English (in Sefaria). From the + (blue circle, press add and then type in the book, perek and pasuk (i.e. Breisheet 1:1 or Shemot 2:2)
(ה) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶל־נְעָרָ֗יו שְׁבוּ־לָכֶ֥ם פֹּה֙ עִֽם־הַחֲמ֔וֹר וַאֲנִ֣י וְהַנַּ֔עַר נֵלְכָ֖ה עַד־כֹּ֑ה וְנִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה וְנָשׁ֥וּבָה אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (ו) וַיִּקַּ֨ח אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֲצֵ֣י הָעֹלָ֗ה וַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙ עַל־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָד֔וֹ אֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם יַחְדָּֽו׃ (ז) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יִצְחָ֜ק אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֤ם אָבִיו֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָבִ֔י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֶּ֣נִּֽי בְנִ֑י וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֤ה הָאֵשׁ֙ וְהָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאַיֵּ֥ה הַשֶּׂ֖ה לְעֹלָֽה׃ (ח) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֱלֹהִ֞ים יִרְאֶה־לּ֥וֹ הַשֶּׂ֛ה לְעֹלָ֖ה בְּנִ֑י וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם יַחְדָּֽו׃
(5) And Abraham said unto his young men: ‘Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back to you.’ (6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together. (7) And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said: ‘My father.’ And he said: ‘Here am I, my son.’ And he said: ‘Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ (8) And Abraham said: ‘God will aprovide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.
Context: Explain where this text comes within the story of Torah. What is important about this "pshat"? What is the contextual meaning of your text that is important?
In the story there is also the aspect of trust that exists between a father and son, and how this trust gave both of them faith that the situation would resolve itself. Genesis 22:7-8 says “Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together..” This quote shows how Abraham and Isaac’s father - son relationship allowed them to work together in an uncertain situation. Though neither of them knew what God’s plan truly was, they knew they had to travel to make the offering and they chose to do it together in peace, rather than arguing. This could not have been possible if they didn't share this familial bond that remains through thick and thin.
Type in the commentary/midrash here that you think is a really great commentary. Be sure to include who the author of the commentary is.
"What kind of man is Abraham if he chooses to follow such a command? An honest reading of this text presents us with an Abraham who is either a murderer, or a man fully dedicated to the word of God even when God’s word is a total rupture with the demands of the ethical. This act of Abraham’s is the epitome of the ‘religious’, which is invariably at odds and transcendent to the merely ‘ethical’; contained within this act is also a powerful statement of individual singularity as opposed to surrendering what is unique in us to the demands of the collective" (Kirschbaum).
Explain why you believe that the midrash that you chose is so meaningful or important. What does the midrash add to the pshat? Explain something about the commentator as part of this section.
This comment explores the idea of what kind of a person Abraham is, and brings up the idea of a very important character trait about Abraham: that he will do anything for his son. Though Abraham had no way of knowing whether or not hey truly would return safely, he felt the need, as Isaac’s father, to comfort him by saying that they will return safely. He put his love for Isaac above his own fear by telling him that everything will be alright. In a way, Abraham’s decision to sacrifice Isaac is an example of his actions as a good father. He knew that God may need Isaac more than he does, so he is willing to let him go. The saying goes, if you love someone let them go, and if they come back they were yours in the first place. This is exactly what happened to Abraham, he loved Isaac so much, he would do anything for him, including giving him back to God. This choice is in the end, what proved to God that Abraham was loyal to him, and what made him spare Isaac.
Type in your personal midrash here regarding this text here. Minimum of 250 words. Be sure to include how your study of the pshat and midrash could impact your life today, and why you chose this text from all of the choices that were available to you.
I think this text is very imporant and relates to my life because it teaches some very important lessons about the parent-child relationship. Though it focuses on a father - son relationship, there are many lessons we can take to apply to any parent in our lives from this story. For example, the reason that Abraham was so willing to sacrifice Isaac in the first place was precisely due to the fact that he was his father. Abraham and Sarah had waited so long to have a child and prayed to God for many years, before God finally gifted Isaac to them. Because of this, it seems that Abraham felt as though he owed God, and that it was not his right to refuse his requests. There is also the aspect of showing favoritism between his two sons. Though I am an only child, I find this very interesting to see this kind of relationship between a father and his two sons. Though Abraham was trying to prove that he loved both his sons equally, in this case God was showing more attention to Isaac. It may not have been positive attention, as he was asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but he still was favoring prioritizing him. Because Sarah could not have a baby, God may have viewed Isaac as his personal gift to Abraham and Sarah, therefore he chose to give him a more important role in proving Abraham’s loyalty. This relates to our modern day lives, because we can apply it to our own relationships with our parents and close family. We can look at how Abraham and Isaac persevered through this difficult situation, and learn how to do that with our own family. Many times, people get caught up in little arguments with the people that they love, because of the closeness of their relationship. In moments where we find ourselves taking our parents for granted, we can remind ourselves that if Abraham and Isaac can utilize their father- son relationship to get them through God’s test, we can get through whatever is going on with our family. This question holds a very important message for everyone, that despite whatever we are currently going through with family or close friends, we should never abandon them, just because it may seem easier. Instead, we should work through it with each other and it will work out better in the end.