Blessed with Everything

Advertisements
Advertisements

3 min read

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintFriendlyShare

Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18 )

One of the most elusive – and perhaps pervasive – of all desires is that of having ‘everything’. People want ‘more’, they wish they could ‘have it all’. But what does it actually mean to have everything in life?

We are told in no uncertain terms that: ‘God blessed Abraham bakol (with everything)’ (Gen. 24:1). Eliezer became responsible for ‘everything’ that was Abraham’s, (24:2) and later, ‘Abraham gave everything that was his to Isaac’ (25:5). Immediately after this, Abraham went on to give gifts to his other children (25:6). This implies that whatever it was that he had received from God and passed onto Isaac could not have been physical, tangible items, for then there would have been nothing left to give to his other children. The Talmud grapples with this idea, bringing no less than six interpretations of what exactly bakol – ‘everything’ means. Suggested interpretations include: not preventing the loss of the Abrahamic name, having a daughter whose name is bakol, astrological skills that kings of the east and west seek, a special stone that heals people, the fact that Esau’s rebellion did not occur in Abraham’s lifetime and Ishmael’s repentance (Bava Batra 16b). With all these interpretations for the term ‘bakol’ the question remains, how are we to know which is correct?

Perhaps, rather than being mutually exclusive, all the interpretations are indeed correct, such that rather than each interpretation representing a distinct answer, each could represent a different expression of the same answer.

This can be explained by classifying the different opinions into two types. One category relates to Abraham’s investment in his children, whether through actually bringing them into the world, or through the honorable role that they played and legacy that they left behind. Rashi explains that the numerical value of ben (son) is equivalent to that of bakol (everything), implying that our children are everything. In Abraham’s case, his descendants were one of the greatest blessings he received from God, and were also his greatest blessing to the world, in that they became the torch from which his message of ethical monotheism continues to burn. The second category relates to providing for those in need, whether spiritual guidance or physical healing, suggesting that helping others is ‘bakol’, everything. The common denominator spanning both categories of interpretation is that of the blessing of a meaningful contribution to the world.

Earlier, God empowers Abraham with the ability to bless others (12:2), and the Midrash explains that when Abraham gives Isaac ‘everything’, he blesses him with the ability to bless others (Gen. Rabba 61:6). Thus, the blessing does not just stay with Isaac, but rather it continues through to Jacob as he declares to his brother: ‘I have everything,’ implying that this was all he needed (Rashi on 33:11).

It seems that all the interpretations point to one clear idea that is passed down from generation to generation. To have ‘everything’ is to have the ability to bless others. The greatest gift that exists is the gift of giving itself.

Click here to comment on this article
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
EXPLORE
LEARN
MORE
Explore
Learn
Resources
Next Steps
About
Donate
Menu
Languages
Menu
Social
.