by Rebbetzin Esther Shurin

That Israel is enduring trial and tribulation while the rest of the world seems a much calmer place reminds me of a famous question asked by Rabbi Soloveitchik and Rabbi Hutner regarding the Akeida. After Avraham comes down from Har HaMoriya, he hears about his brother Nachor’s family and of the birth of Rivka. Why is one narrative next to the other?  Rashi explains that their proximity reflects the flow of Avraham Avinu’s thoughts: thinking about the near death of his childless son, Avraham wants to find a wife for Yitzchak.

However, Rav Hutner and Rav Soloveitchik ask a further question.  Why is the narrative of Nachor’s family so closely tied to the Akeida that we read both together on Rosh HaShana?

Rabbi Berzon Z’L answers as follows in his book Dovev Mesharim: Avraham Avinu goes through many difficult times: he leaves his family and his homeland, suffers through many trials and tribulations, relocates due to famine, remains childless until the age of one hundred, and then, after all that, asked to offer Yitzchok to Hashem. He braves this trauma with great love for and belief in Hashem.

Then, Yitzchok is saved and hears that Nachor is alive and well in distant Haran, with many children and a seemingly easy and uncomplicated life, oblivious to Avraham’s suffering. Nachor’s easy and contented life is part of Avraham’s Akeida; Avraham must deal with the great burden of being the chosen one while the rest of the world goes about its business happily and without thought for Avraham’s ordeal.

The Jewish people have suffered many Akeidot throughout our history; our great trouble now is only the latest in a series of tests designed by Hashem. “Maaseh Avot Siman LeBanim”- our ancestors’ experiences are models for our own; even when we do not understand why Hashem puts us through these troubles, we must be steadfast in our faith as Avraham and Yitzchok were in theirs. The unfeeling attitude of the rest of the world is just one aspect of the Akeida, and we must believe that the redemption is coming soon.

In the meantime, it is important for those of us in Israel to know that our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora are aware of and involved in our troubles. Do not let us go through this Akeida alone.