Timeless Torah

This weeks Torah portion records the end of one era and the start of another. The mantle of leadership was about to pass from Abraham to his son Isaac. And so the first of the three Patriarchs, sensing that his time had come began to settle his affairs.

According to the Torah, “Hashem had blessed Abraham with everything.” The aging father, withholding nothing, “gave all which was his to Isaac.” Regarding his other children from his concubine, the Bible records that he, “gave them gifts and he sent them away from Isaac.”

This story raises many interesting points. Among them is the obvious question: If Abraham gave all that he possessed to Isaac, what was then left for the others?

Although there are several answers offered by the commentaries, we shall limit ourselves to one very beautiful insight. The simple meaning of the verse, “Hashem had blessed Abraham with everything,” cannot possibly mean that the Father of our people owned all the wealth in the world, and that every other individual was left penniless. Rather, the intent of the passage is that in whatever Abraham did own, he sensed G-d’s blessing. There are people who have much to be thankful for, but derive no satisfaction from their situation in life. All they can think of is what they still don’t have, but wish to acquire.

Abraham, however, was blessed because he never longed for that which he did not possess. It was this perception, this attitude of life that the first Jew bequeathed on his son and to all his descendants. Were there gifts left over? Plenty! But the true reward he conferred on Isaac, the ability to enjoy what one has.