"On Passover night, we recount the story of our exodus from Egypt. We commence the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim with the words, "Mitchila ovdei avoda zarah hoyu avoseinu". The Haggadah describes how in the beginning our forefathers served idols , but that G-d embraced us and brought us closer to his service. The Haggadah then specifies that our idol worshipping forefather was Terach, the father of our patriarch Abraham.The question arises : Why was Terach referred to as the father of Abraham – usually the custom is to refer to someone as 'the son of so and so' (e.g. when calling someone up to the Thora for an aliya – we call up the person as ... , son of …) and not 'the father of …' – hence Terach should have been called 'Terach , the son of Nachor' by the Hagaddah and not the father of Abraham?
The answer is that the Haggadah is teaching us an important lesson. Both Terach and his father Nachor were idol worshippers, whereas Abraham recognized G-d's existence. The Haggadah refers to Terach as the father of Abraham to teach us that just like Terach is associated with Abraham and not with his idol worshipping father , so too we – the Jewish nation are only connected to the 3 patriarchs Abraham , Isaac and Jacob and not to Abraham's idol worshipping father and grandfather.
This is in line with a Gemara in Tractate Berachot which states that the Jewish people only have 3 patriarchs , namely Abraham , Isaac and Jacob and thus we are only associated with them and not with their idol worshipping forefathers. The Gemara explains that if we were also linked to their idol worshipping forefathers – it would be a constant reminder of sin.
The point the Haggadah is making is that we must be grateful to G-d for only associating us with righteous people and not with evil sinners."
I would like to thank a special young relative for the above contribution. In the zechut of your devar torah may you grow further in Torah learning, may you be blessed in health and parnassah, and may you find your zivug hagun bekalut and bekarov. In short, alle berachos.
Excellent dvar torah! I would like to add a powerful insight from one of the great Rabbonim of pre-war Europe, Rav Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer ZT"L, the last official Chief Rabbi of Krakow. In the beginning of Sefer Bamidbar Rav Kornitzer comments that "Yichus," prominent lineage, is only reckoned to our benefit to the extent we assimilate the lessons of our illustrious forbears and follow in their footsteps. After all, Yishmael and Esav also descended from Avraham yet are not reckoned as his progeny. "Ki b'Yitchak yikare lecha zera." Only Yitzchak and Yaakov, who carried on Avraham's great mission of bringing the world closer to the true G-d, were "meyuchas" after Avraham.
ReplyDeleteMay the young author of this wonderful dvar torah continue the glorious chain of tradition of his esteemed parents, grandparents, and ancestors, living in accordance with the examples they set and passing the holy torch to "future generations."
It is noteworthy as well that Chazal taught that children often grow up to mirror their maternal Uncles (yivdok b'acheha). You must make your Uncle very proud.