Parshah Toldot: Birth

by Rabbi Yosef Serebryanski

Toldos - birth

(Genesis 25:19) “These are the descendants of Yitzchok son of Abraham; Abraham gave birth to Yitzchak.” Yitzchak was born twice. First, he was the son of Abraham and Sarah. We can define his second birth as happening at the time of the Akeida. Many commentaries tell us that Yitzchak’s soul left his body at the Akeida. This means that the soul connection with Abraham and Sarah left his body. Abraham then brought a new soul into Yitzchak, which gave birth to the new Yitzchak. The Hebrew word for gave birth to Yitzchak - holid es Yitzchak is the same numerical value as “time of the akeida” – “eis hoakeida.” Sarah did not make a new soul connection with Yitzchak. Thus, a part of Sarah died at the time of the Akeida.

Afterwards Abraham gave gifts to his other children and sent them away. His entire heritance was given to Yitzchak. The second soul that Abraham brought into his body was only inherited by (his descendants through) Yitzchak.

Yishmael did not get an inheritance. That may be one reason that his descendants are always looking to take land away from others. Esau had a soul since he was a son of Yitzchak, but he also had pride and thought he knew everything. He and his descendants did not have the humbleness to accept the Torah.

In life there are various situations where we need to have the strength to lift ourselves up in order to move forward. When we understand that everything is from the Creator (and the Creator life force fills all space) it gives us strength to endure any situation and emerge from any experience in a whole form. Our belief allows us to remain above and beyond the challenges throughout our journey.

Darkness in the world grows even as some endeavor to bring light into the world. We need to remember that the purpose of the darkness is to eventually manifest a revelation of the Creator which is beyond our current situation. Since the source of all life is beyond limitations, there is always more that is “beyond” each level of revelation.

(Psalms 89:3) “For I have said, world will be built with kindness, balance will be established with your trust in them.” The attribute of Abraham is kindness and from him began the establishment of a new balance for the world.

The darkness is a spiritual force that cannot shine in this world. It gets vitality from filling the place where the light does not shine. The purpose of the darkness is jolt us into becoming stronger in our faith. Once that happens a light comes through that transforms the darkness. The sooner we display our strength the quicker the darkness can be transformed. Sadly, most leaders and people show weaknesses that delay the time for the transformation to light.

May we merit that the Creator chooses to transform the darkness of this world sooner than later. Then we can experience (Psalms 23:6) “Only goodness and kindness shall surround me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of YH-VH for the length of days.”

ואלה תולדות יצחק בן אברהם ר"ת גי' אחדות. והר"ת במספר קטן דוד. יצחק בן אברהם גי' שחר. אברהם אותיות אבר מה, מה גי' גאולה. ואלה תולדות עם הכולל גי' שהמשיח עומד הימנו. ואלה תולדות גי' אז יבולע מות לנצח בעולם. קודם היה יצחק בן אברהם ועל ידי הנשמה חדשה בהעקידה נעשה אברהם הוליד את יצחק. הוליד את יצחק גי' עת העקידה. ובגלל זה הירושה היה רק ליצחק. ואלה תולדת יצחק בן אברהם אברהם הוליד הס"ת עם הכולל גי' מתקנים, היינו שגבורותיו של יצחק מיתקנים על ידי אברהם שהולידו. ב' פעמים אברהם גי' מלכות. ר"ת של כל הפסוק גי' משיח בן דויד עם שני כוללים, ובד"ה (ב, ו:מב) זכרה לחסד דויד עבדך ומיד נענה שלמה המלך. (בראשית יד:כב) הרמתי ידי גי' כד מספר דויד. אברהם הוליד העולם וקיימא, "את" פירוש עם יצחק, שאלמלא נברא יצחק לא היה העולם מתקיים כמ"ש במדרש תנחומה