Monday 28 December 2015

10) People Think Religion Is Synonymous With Sacrifice:



On the subject of Avraham being ‘tested’ by G-d when he was asked to ‘sacrifice’ his son Yitzchak, the Kotzker has a novel perceptive of the famous event.



He says; “It was more difficult for Avraham to desist from the sacrifice than to prepare for it.”[1]

It is the nature of people to think that religion and G-d require the most demanding of sacrifices. So too thought Avraham and that’s why the call to sacrifice his son was originally not such an anathema to him. Having come from a background of idolatry, this concept of glorifying sacrifice came quite naturally to him.


But when he overcame his disappointment at having to desist from sacrifice, G-d said; “Now I know that you are a G-d fearing man” (as opposed to an idolater). - Because refined and elevated faith is not predicated upon the desire of the worshiper to appease G-d through sacrifice.

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[1] Amud HaEmet p. 21, par. 1

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