VAYEYRA 5781

What Comes Next

All of us are so anxious right now after the election on Tuesday—waiting to see what will come next. It’s tempting to sit in front of a television, steeped in anxiety, and watch numbers being tallied and predictions being made. And it even may be months from now—after all the lawsuits—when we actually learn who will be the next president. So many of us are stuck, unable to move forward. And yet, we must.

Perhaps we can learn how from Father Abraham. Today is the Torah reading where we read of the Akeda, the story (Gen. 22) of the binding of Isaac. It begins with the words: Vay’hi achar had’varim ha-eyleh (And it happened after these things). The Rashbam comments: Kol makom sh’ne’emar achar had’varim ha-eyleh, m’chubar al haparsha shel’mala (Every place where the Torah says, “After these things,” it is connected to the text above it).

Although the story of the binding of Isaac introduces a new narrative, it directs us to interpret it against the backdrop of the previous text. So more than just a chronological notation, when the Torah says, “After these things” it really means, “against the backdrop of these things.” The story then builds upon the drama we previously read of Abraham sending away Ishmael, and the treaty he made with Avimelech. With the sending away of Ishmael—Abraham’s son with Hagar—it was established that Isaac would be the leader of Gd’s people…and with the treaty made with Avimelech it was established that Abraham was a recognized resident of the Holy Land that would be given to his descendants. In other words, it is our past experiences, and the dramas of our lives that make us who we are. Achar had’varim ha’eyleh means that we must face what comes next. For Abraham, he had to withstand his greatest test—the Binding of Isaac…and because of what had happened before, he was able to say to Gd, “Hineyni (I am here), I am ready.”

But the story doesn’t end there. It is fascinating that it concludes with the very same phrase, Achar had’varim ha’eyleh (And it happened after these things). The text continues, “It was told to Abraham saying: ‘Behold Milka also bore sons to Nachor your brother [listing the genealogy of Abraham’s brothers ending with]...and Betuel begot Rebecca.’” After this seminal moment of the binding of Isaac, the Torah gives us a list of genealogies, signaling to us that after a traumatic event, birth and continuity and blessing is possible.

In fact, whenever this phrase, Achar had’varim ha’eyleh (After these things) appears in the Torah, a story of renewal, rebirth and blessings often follow. For example, after a war Abraham fights with 4 kings that defeated 5 kings to rescue his nephew Lot, the Torah (15:1) immediately tells us: Achar had’varim ha’eyleh (After these things). The text continues, “The word of the Lrd came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Fear not, Abram; I am your Shield; your reward is exceedingly great.’” These words Achar had’varim ha’eyleh lead to Gd’s promise of blessings of a multitude of children as plentiful as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the shore.

Another example: After the events that brought Jacob and his children down to Egypt with years of family dysfunction, the Torah (Gen. 48:1) says: “Achar had’varim ha’eyleh, and it happened after these things that it was told to Joseph: ‘Behold, your father is ill.’ After years of separation, Jacob and Joseph are finally united. But the heartbreak of illness suddenly arises. And so Jospeh took his 2 sons with him, Menashe and Efraim to visit with Jacob and the left receiving his blessings.

Each of these stories leads to birth and renewal. Just when all seems lost, the Torah says, Achar had’varim ha’eyleh. And with both Abraham and Jacob, Gd tells them, al tira (don’t be afraid), there is something good ahead that awaits us. Just this morning as I was listening to a lesson from Rabbi Manis Friedman. Last January he predicted that the world was in for a big surprise. And by March we understood what that surprise was. In this morning’s lesson he said that this coming year will be surprisingly good.

After the trauma of Isaac’s near death with the Akeda, the Torah tells us that in-spite of, and because of the events that had just transpired, life does go on. Bethuel gave birth to Rebecca, who would become Isaac’s wife.

My friends, we are now in an Achar had’varim ha’eyleh moment—perhaps stuck and unable to imagine moving forward. But we must fortify ourselves with our past, and use what we know to thrust us into the unknown, with the optimism that the world ahead will bring blessing, renewal and growth. And remember, our Sages teach us that ultimately it is Gd who chooses our world leaders. So whoever becomes president, let’s accept it in the knowledge that this is what Gd thinks the world needs now. And who are we to argue with Gd? Amen!