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

Parshat Vayera

‘And G-d said to Abraham, do not be distressed about the lad or the servant, whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice…’ (Bereishit 21,12)

One of the puzzling stories in this week’s Sidra is Abraham’s expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, at the bidding of Sarah. Rashi, the premier Torah commentator, explains that Sarah’s level of prophecy was greater than that of Abraham. How and if Abraham and Sarah received prophecy is a matter of some dispute amongst the commentators at the beginning of the Sidra, but is an important factor in appraising this episode.

Rashi’s commentary also explains that Ishmael was a bad child and nefarious influence on Isaac. Was Ishmael a ‘Ben Soreh u’Moreh’ – a terrible child as specifically defined by the Talmud– for whom the Torah mandates capital punishment to save him and others from murderous activities (Devarim chapter 21, TB Sanhedrin 68b)? Did Sarah prophetically or logically classify Ishmael as a Ben Soreh u’Moreh? Yet the Talmud clarifies that Ben Soreh u’Moreh is a theoretical concept, which has never and could never occur (TB Sanhedrin 71a)! And where does Hagar fit into this? This is something to think about.

Rabbi E.E.Desler, (20^th century) quotes the Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni) that this was one of the 10 tests of Abraham, either to show the greatness of Abraham, or to help him become a better person, as the commentators discuss. One of Abraham’s most impressive qualities, amply demonstrated in this Sidra, was his chesed, kindness. Expelling Ishmael was the hardest test to date. However, there are situations in which the Torah tells us that we cannot be merciful, and the prophecy revealed this qualified as such a situation. Abraham had to overcome his naturally merciful instinct which may have prevented him from fulfilling this task.

Intriguingly, after the expulsion, G-d saves Ishmael and Hagar, just as Isaac is saved after the Akeidah, Binding of Isaac in chapter 22.