Rabbi Michael Laitner
If you have comments please feel free to e-mail Rabbi Laitner at: michael@southhampstead.org

Parshat Toldot

‘And Isaac entreated G-d opposite his wife as she had no children. And G-d was entreated by him, and Rebecca conceived.’ (Bereishit 25,21)

This week we will briefly continue to examine some of the techniques that Rashi (1040-1105), the premier Torah commentator, employed when writing his commentary.

The rarely used verb ‘atar’ – ayin, taf, reish - is translated here as ‘entreated’ following Rashi’s explanation that it means to greatly entreat in prayer.  The message of the sentence appears confusing though.  Why is the verb repeated, why were Isaac and Rebecca opposite each other and why was Isaac answered over Rebecca?

Rashi explains that they both stood in opposite corners of the tent and prayed.  The repetition of the verb might be understood as showing the depth and abundance of their prayer.  Rashi brings other examples of where it is used in the Tanach (Bible) to help us examine the contexts in which it is used.

Isaac was answered, according to Rashi, because the prayer of a tzadik (righteous person) ben tzadik who is the child of a tzadik cannot be compared to the prayer of a tzadik ben rasha who is the child of a rasha (evil person).

Let us now move away from Rashi.  Rabbi E.E.Desler, a great 20^th century rabbi and philosopher, who served as Rabbi in Dalston, and founded the kolel in the Gateshead Yeshiva, suggests that the two kinds of tzadikim have overcome different obstacles. 

Rebecca overcame the obstacle of the unsavoury society in which she grew up.  Isaac overcame the obstacle of living in the shadow of Abraham and Sarah.  Given that Isaac’s had managed to maintain and develop the traditions of his father and mother, not staying hidden in the shadow, perhaps his prayer was more efficacious when asking G-d for a child or children to continue his work.