"...and I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob, and also My covenant [with] Isaac, and also My covenant [with] Abraham I will remember." [Bechukotai 26:42]
Why are the forefathers listed in reverse order? asked R' Shmelke of Nikolsburg.
Chazal have taught us, answered the Rebbe, that "The world depends on three things - on Torah study, on the service of G-d, and on kind deeds [Pirkei Avot 1:2]
Each one of the forefathers was noted for a different character trait.
Yaakov embodied Torah study. He was "a wholesome man abiding in tents" [Bereishis 25:27] who studied Torah in the yeshivah of Shem and Ever.
Yitzchak, who had been bound to an altar, represented service of Hashem.
Avraham, the paradigm of hospitality, represented the trait of kindness.
The order in which the verse lists the forefathers - Yaakov, Yitzchak and Avraham - corresponds to the order utilitzed by Chazal to enumerate the three things upon which the world depends: first "Torah", then "service of G-d" and finally "kindness" [Torah, Tefilla, Tzedaka]
Source: Rabbi Yitzchak Bronstein
H Grand
ReplyDeleteBeautiful vort!
It may be more accurate to say, Chazal wrote Torah, Avodah, Gemillus Chasadim in that order to reflect the passuk which lists Yaakov, Yitzchak and then Avraham. To a certain extent our question regarding the order still remains.
ReplyDelete"Chazal wrote...???
ReplyDeleteYes, chazal (chachamim zichronam levracha) includes Rebbi Yehuda HaNassi who wrote the mishna including Pirkei Avos
ReplyDeleteChazal expounded on the Torah, and yes, they wrote the mishna, Pirkei Avot and other sefarim that enlighten us and enable us to understand and better live the words of the Torah. However, the Torah, written and oral, are the words of HKBH, as written by Moshe Rebbeinu.
DeleteYes but the way of Chazal is to understand and expound on the pesukim. I have never heard of cases where we say that the Torah uses a particular wording so as to be in agreement with Chazal (Chazal teach certain things so as to be in agreement with the torah). The Torah says what it does because its the word of Hashem and is fixed. Torah Sh'BeAl Pe was also given on Har Sinai but how that actually manifested is complicated, was it the halachic principles, the opinions which were not accepted l'halacha, when did it stop, if I come with a Torah thought was that given to Moshe Rabbeinu? Obviously everything comes from Hashem but to say the Torah was forced to phrase something in a certain way so as to fit in with the mishna sounds Topsy turvey and is not the normal way Torah is learned in the Yeshivas.
ReplyDelete