Rebbe Shmuel taught in the name of Rebbe Yochanan, "Why is it written (Isaiah 63) 'For you are our Father, for Abraham doesn't know us and Israel doesn't recognize us. You Hashem are our father, your eternal name is our Redeemer.'? In the time to come the Holy One Praised be G-d will say to Abraham: Your children have sinned against Me. Abraham will say before Him, "Master of the Universe, blot out their name for the sanctification of Your Name." G-d will say of Jacob, who had great sorrow in raising his children, "Perhaps he [Jacob] will seek mercy on their[ [Israel's] behalf." G-d will say to Jacob, "Your children sinned against me." Jacob will say before G-d, "Master of the Universe, blot out their name for the santification of your name." G-d will say, "The old have no sense, and the young ones have no counsel." G-d will say to Issac, "Your children have sinned against me." Issac will respond, "Master of the Universe, are they MY children and not YOUR children? When Israel said, 'We will do' before 'We will hear,' You called them (Exodus 4:22) 'My son, My firstborn.' Now Israel is my children and not Yours? Furthermore, how much did Israel sin. A person's life is 70 years. Take away the first 20 years, where you don't punish them. That leaves 50 years. Take away another 25 years of nights, leaving 25 years. Take away 12 and a half years, which are eating, praying, and time in the toilet, leaving 12 and 1/2 years. If You can tolerate that, great! If not, let half be Your burden and half be mine. If you want to say all of it is on me, here I am before you."
Israel spoke and said, "For you [Issac] are our father." Issac said to Israel, "Before you praise me, praise the Holy One Praised be G-d," and Issac revealed G-d to their eyes. Israel immediately raised their eyes to heaven and said, "You Hashem are our father, your eternal name is our Redeemer!"
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment