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Parsha Vayishlah 07
LIFE FOR LIFE
“Have no fear for it is another boy for you” (Gen.35.17)
There were two who were prepared for self-sacrifice - Yitzhak and Rachel.
Yitzhak was ready to give up his life when bound to the altar. Rachel was ready to give up her life for another son.
Yitzhak acted out of fear, fear of heaven. Rachel acted out of love, love of children. They both merited that the Temple be built where they showed willingness to sacrifice for fear of heaven and love of man.
The Sanctuary was established in the territory of the tribe of Binyamin, in the region where Rachel passed on from this life in bringing forth life. It was placed at the site where Yitzhak virtually died and came back to life. Here, through sacrifice, their descendants perpetuated life.
We carry that Temple in our heart. To keep it throbbing with the vitality of life, we surrender to the divine will by refraining from negatives [negative Mitzvoth] and we do acts of kindness [positive Mitzvoth] for love of our fellow.
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