an interesting idea

[cellio]

Ruth Levenstein posted an interesting idea to a Jewish mailing list that I'm on.

It is generally held that the binding of Isaac (the Akeidah) was a test, and that Avraham passed the test by obeying the order to sacrifice his son. But maybe Avraham *failed* the test. Maybe passing the test would have meant protesting, as he did to protect S'dom and Gemorrah a few chapters earlier.

The story takes on a very different tone if you read it from this perspective.

Comments

midrash

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

It's midrash that Sarah died because she knew saw the Akeidah but it wasn't her test so she hadn't prepared herself for the shock of it. But I feel uncomfortable relating that because it is forbidden to teach oral Torah to non-Jews. Midrash is in that grey area however.

Re: midrash

[cellio]

But I feel uncomfortable relating that because it is forbidden to teach oral Torah to non-Jews.

Where did you learn that? Many reputable institutions teach (via email) anyone who asks, such as Ohr Somayach, Yeshivat Har Etzion, Chabad, DAF, Project Genesis, and Aishdas (just off the top of my head, and sticking to Orthodox institutions).

I suspect that discussing midrash (or halacha) at the level of the typical net conversation wouldn't be what they meant, anyway. I can see not sitting down and learning for hours a day straight from the primary sources with non-Jews, though I also can't imagine too many non-Jews being interested. :-)