“In the story of Isaac, it is not only God’s intervention at the beginning and the end, but even the factual and psychological elements which come between, that are mysterious, merely touched upon, fraught with background; and therefore they require subtle investigation and interpretation, they demand them.”
Erich Auerbach as quoted by Nechama Liebowitz, “God will Provide the Lamb”
Essay, thoughts, and short takes on the Binding of Isaac (Akedat Yitzhak)
The Binding of Isaac has been a topic that I have been thinking about for a long time. I created this space to share interesting essays, books, and other content on the topic that I come across, as well as share my own thoughts and writings. Most, though not necessarily all, of the content is from an Orthodox Jewish perspective, reflecting my own religious background and practice. If you like the contents that I provide, don’t forget to subscribe at the bottom of the page.
Latest Posts:
Dr. Chayuta Deutsh on the Akedah
I really, really enjoyed the article (link) entitled “The Binding of Isaac and Historical Contextuality” by Dr. Chayuta Deutsh on the Akedah. This is a nice review of the diversity of traditional Jewish approaches to the ethical issues raised by the Akedah, and particularly great for me, and I think many traditional Jewish readers out…
Rabbi Menahem Mendel Schneerson: “Now I know that you fear Gd” as consolation
Bereshit 22:12 states: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־תִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־הַנַּ֔עַר וְאַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָּה כִּ֣י ׀ עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־יְרֵ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ אַ֔תָּה וְלֹ֥א חָשַׂ֛כְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֥ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ֖ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ And he said, “Do not raise your hand against the boy, or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear Gd, since you have not withheld your son, your favored…
Don’t the rabbis care about ethics?
Most Rabbinic commentators of the Chumash (midrashic, medieval, and later periods) are of the opinion that Isaac during the Akedah is a fully grown adult who, once he figured out that he was going to be the sacrifice, became a willing participant in the ordeal. (For a summary of the various opinions regarding Isaac’s age,…
About me: Rabbi Dr. Kenichi (Elitzur) Hartman is a rabbi-without-porfolio and ex-Neuroscientist working as a US Patent Agent. He has lived in the San Francisco Bay area, Tokyo, Boston, and New York, and currently resides in Israel. He received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Pirchei Shoshanim in 2008. He also has a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Harvard University.
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Akedat Yitzhak Takes 