parsha of the week: rabbi avi billet

Yitzchak and Avimelekh’s utopian peace talks

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As the main character in the story of the book of Bereshit, our forefather Yitzchak gets all of one chapter before the tale switches its focus to Yaakov. Towards the end of chapter 26, Yitzchak is approached by Avimelekh, king of Gerar, with whom most of the prior encounters of the chapter resembled proverbial head-butts, and he is offered a peace treaty.

Yitzchak’s response is classic: “Why have you come to me? You hate me! You sent me out of [your land]!” (26:27)

Unfazed by the bold accusation and criticism, Avimelekh and company respond, “We have surely seen that G-d is with you, so we declare that an agreement should exist between us — between us and you — and we’ll forge a covenant with you, that just as we did not touch you, you will do no harm to us. We did only good to you and [we] let you leave in peace.” (26:28-29)

If only peace with the enemy was so easy to come by!

Some of the midrashim on these verses point to how Yitzchak used a tactic employed by his father, of straight unadulterated criticism. This kind of argument — pointing out the flaws without holding back — brings an honest second party to realize their ills, embrace their flaws, and come to appreciate and even love the accusing party. In the case of Avraham, and now at least a half century later with Yitzchak, the method brings about an agreement to cease hostilities and to truly live in peace at least until the death of either covenant-maker breaks the bond of agreement.

The Or HaChaim notes that Yitzchak was compelled to say what he said, not because he had any objection to making peace (on the contrary, Yitzchak was intent on living up to the covenant that had been made with his father) but because he believed his own success caused his adversary chose to break the prior agreement.

In Yitzchak’s view, the hatred they’ve harbored towards him was on account of their jealousy. Or HaChaim notes what is “known,” that any hatred that is based on some reality dissipates only when that reality changes, except for the hatred that comes from jealousy. Hatred from jealousy doesn’t drop unless there is a complete overhaul in the perception of what causes the jealousy.

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