The story of the binding...
Illustration
Object:
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every
morning devout Jews read the Akeidah. It is part of the readings on the Jewish New Year,
Rosh Hashanah, and it is occurs once in the regular cycle of readings, making a total of
367 times a year the story is read! Why? According to the rabbis, as soon as the knife of
Abraham touched the throat of Isaac, his soul departed from him. The instant the angel of
the Lord forbade Abraham to harm the child, his soul returned. Thus, Isaac is considered
to have died and rose again on the altar. Rabbi Mekilta Simeon wrote that on the basis of
Isaac's death and resurrection, God will resurrect all the dead. He wrote:
By virtue of Isaac who offered himself as a sacrifice on top of the altar, the Holy One blessed be He, will resurrect the dead in the future, as it is said, "To hear the groaning of him who is bound; to open up release for the offspring appointed to death" (Psalm 102:21). "Him who is bound" is interpreted as Isaac bound on top of the altar. "To open up release for the offspring appointed to death" [is interpreted] as the dead whose graves the Holy One, blessed be He, will open up so that He may set them on their feet in the Age to Come.
(From www.rabbiyeshua.com/articles/2001/akeidah.html)
By virtue of Isaac who offered himself as a sacrifice on top of the altar, the Holy One blessed be He, will resurrect the dead in the future, as it is said, "To hear the groaning of him who is bound; to open up release for the offspring appointed to death" (Psalm 102:21). "Him who is bound" is interpreted as Isaac bound on top of the altar. "To open up release for the offspring appointed to death" [is interpreted] as the dead whose graves the Holy One, blessed be He, will open up so that He may set them on their feet in the Age to Come.
(From www.rabbiyeshua.com/articles/2001/akeidah.html)
