Yakov’s Lack of Compassion

The Messilat Yesharim points out how G-d is very exacting with the righteous like the thread of hair. The greater the individual, the greater the expectations, for meticulously excellent behavior.

One example that appeared to be a minor infraction had to do with Yakov and Rachel. She complained to her husband that she was childless. She said that he should give her children, and if not, she was like a dead woman.

Yakov did not respond with compassion for the plight of his beloved wife. Instead, he said, “Am I in place of G-d that I can give you children?” He needed to pay for his lack of sensitivity. For someone else, this does need seem to be a punishable offense. But more was expected from a holy man like Yakov.

The Messilat Yesharim wrote that the punishment was that in the future, his ten sons would one day be subservient to Rachel’s son, Yosef. This came true in Egypt, when Yosef was elevated to a high position. After Yakov’s death, his brothers were afraid that he would take revenge for their having sold him. Yosef answered with the exact words Yakov said to Rachel, התחת אלוקים אנוכי, “Am I in place of G-d?”

We must learn from our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, how to treat others. We must never be insensitive to the pain of another individual. We must do all that we can to alleviate that pain.

This is especially true today, when we have not nearly recovered from the horrific acts of October seventh. There is so much healing that needs to take place. Our support can be very helpful in ways we do not realize. We must rise to the occasion, and be there for our fellow Jews.

One Day at a Time

The Torah tells us that Yakov worked for Lavan for seven years, in order to be able to marry Rachel. He was seventy-six years old at that time.

It is quite surprising that we are told that these seven years were like ימים אחדים, a few days. It would seem quite the opposite that it must have seemed like an eternity before he was able to marry the true love of his life.

Rav Avraham Twerski wrote that he learned the explanation of this verse from the many addicts that he worked with over the years. The philosophy was to take things, “one day at a time.” Otherwise, the task of becoming sober after years of addiction, would otherwise seem insurmountable. He once was told by a patient that he had accumulated over 4,000, “one days at a time.”

This message is relevant for all of us. If we look at the big picture, and all that we hope to accomplish, it can seem overwhelming. But if we were learn how to chip away at our tasks by taking things one day at a time, it will be much easier for us to reach our goal.

Yakov Avinu understood this, and his seven year wait for his beloved Rachel, actually seemed like only a few days.

Lavan and Jew Hatred

There is an interesting parallel between Yakov Avinu and Lavan, and the challenges we are facing today, as part of the Jewish people.

There is no question that Lavan was a vicious anti-semite. Just like sleazy characters like Barack Obama, he tried to conceal his contempt for Yakov, with his smooth tongue and phoniness. Like our adversaries today, Lavan was consumed with jealousy of Yakov. He represented the purity of character, that he would never achieve.

But perhaps the biggest lesson learned from Lavan, is that Jew haters don’t care about the facts, and they are certainly not interested in the truth.

The deceitful Lavan was given the opportunity of having G-d reveal Himself to him in a dream. He was warned that he better not harm Yakov in any way. He was sufficiently frightened that he left Yakov alone, but it was not enough to change his evil ways.

If a revelation from Hashem was not enough to convince Lavan that Yakov’s path was correct, he was a hopeless case. He was not interested in the truth, and was not interested in changing his corrupt existence.

We are facing numerous Lavans in the world today. They are guided by their hatred of the Jewish people. They will deny the truth regardless of how strong the proofs might be. We need not focus on the Jew haters, for they will not change. But we do need to make the ignorant more aware, and show the world the justice of our cause. We may not be able to make the Lavans believe, but we must have faith to know that the truth will win in the end. The Redemption is at hand!

Preparing for Life’s Challenges

This week, the Parsha is focused on Yakov Avinu, and the challenges that he must learn to overcome. He needed to be equipped with the necessary preparation, to succeed in his mission of building the nation of Israel.

He began his journey with a slight detour. He decided to spend fourteen years in the Yeshiva of Shem and Eiver, studying Torah, in order to strengthen himself. Yakov was diligent, and studied day and night.

On his way from Beer Sheva, he spent the night on Mount Moriah, where he had the dream of the ladder, with angels ascending and descending. It was a great spiritual revelation, and Yakov was comforted with the knowledge, that his children would one day return to this holy land.

He also learned by way of prophecy, the significance of the Beit Hamikdash, that would one day be built, on that very spot. He was able to foresee the special bond of the Jewish people with their G-d, as they visited his home, three times a year.

Yakov prayed that he not be damaged by all of the negative influences of Chutz L’Aretz, and the corrupt individuals living there. He asked for Hashem’s support and guidance.

We can see why Yakov was successful in finding a wife, building a family, and overcoming the trickery and deceit of his father in-law, Lavan. His unshakable trust in G-d, carried him through.

We must do our utmost to equip our children with all of the tools necessary to overcome all of the obstacles before them. There are so many temptations that are out there, capable of luring them away from their Jewish roots. We must guide them and pray for Divine assistance, that they continue in the holy path of their ancestors. With His help, they will succeed.

The Danger of Laziness

The Ramchal makes numerous observations about human nature. One such observation is man’s natural tendency towards laziness.

The interesting twist to this human tendency, is that if one has the habit of constantly procrastinating, and delaying the fulfillment of necessary tasks, it is an indication, that he is greatly lacking, in the area of spirituality. He is very much connected to the עולם הגשמי, the material, physical world.

This is greatly in contrast to one who has overcome his laziness. He acts with swiftness and enthusiasm in fulfilling any task placed before him. He will not stay in bed more than is necessary, and will not make excuses for not getting things done on time.

The reason why the Ramchal sees this as a reflection of spirituality, or the lack of it, is connected to how one approaches the observance of Torah and Mitzvot.

The spiritual individual will not wait a moment if there is a good deed to be performed. If it involves synagogue attendance, he will be among the first to be present. He is passionate in his desire to do good in this world. He is spiritual.

Contrast this to our lazy guy. He is late to Shule if he attends at all. He gives numerous excuses, when asked to participate in a Mitzva. He is not very spiritual at all. He is connected too much to the physical world.

This is a very clever observation about human nature. Aside from the more lofty goal of achieving spirituality, it should clearly be recognized that laziness is a negative character trait, that must be overcome.

Three Obstacles to Spirituality

The Messilat Yesharim is very practical in its effort to get its readers to desire establishing a closer relationship with G-d. Its author, the Ramchal, recognized many of the obstacles created by man’s nature. In particular, he mentions three such obstacles in our quest to achieve spirituality.

The first problem we encounter, comes from simply being too busy with our day to day schedule. Our day is filled with so many mundane activities, that we literally, have no time to think.

If we were to force ourselves to take breaks, and analyze how we are living, it would help a great deal. An obvious remedy, would be to set up definite time periods for Torah study. This would place us more in a spiritual mode.

The second obstacle mentioned by the Ramchal, is overcoming a tendency to be cynical, and to make a mockery of religious teachings. This creates a block between us and holiness. Once a rabbi gave a very inspiring class on character development. He told a student that his class could be ruined by three words, “Ha ha ha.” We need to overcome our doubts, and be open to let in holy, lofty ideas.

The final obstacle comes from our association with bad company. We tend to be influenced by the people we let into our lives. It is difficult to grow spiritually, when we are ridiculed by our friends and family. We must put ourselves in the best possible setting, to allow for our achieving closeness to G-d.

A simple lesson from the Ramchal has great depth. We must free up time in our schedules for self analysis. We must learn to overcome cynicism. And we must stay away from bad company and bad influences. If we can do this, we are ready to begin climbing the ladder of spirituality.

Truth and Fighting Evil

Yakov Avinu is known for possessing the attribute of אמת, or truth. This is somewhat puzzling, when we see how he cleverly dealt with Eisav.

The Rabbis referred to Eisav, as עשו הרשע, the evil Eisav. He epitomized evil in all respects. He was a murderer and rapist, and made light of the belief in G-d. He denied the idea of an afterlife, and was seen as a very dangerous individual.

Yakov was seen as a simple, innocent person, who devoted his life to Torah study and his devotion to G-d. The Midrash says that he spent fourteen years, studying day and night.

The Torah is teaching us, through Yakov, how to deal with Eisav. He was not able to act with his innocent nature. Had he done so, he would have been devoured by his brother, and later, by his father in-law, Lavan. The truthful thing to do when dealing with evil, is to outsmart it.

King David made this point in Psalms, when he clarified that we need to act differently when we interact with a wise, pious man, and a crook.

It was unavoidable for him, not to have taken the birthright as he did. And similarly, he needed to make a deal with Lavan to take the spotted and striped sheep, in order to receive his just wage.

Today, Israel is waking up to the heavy price we have paid in assuming our enemy had the same moral standard as us. We were in denial of the fact that we were dealing with an enemy that never wanted to make peace with us. All they ever wanted, was our complete destruction.

We must look evil in the face and eliminate it. We must know our enemy, and accept the reality. Thankfully, Hashem has been with us in time to correct our mistakes of the past. We must complete our mission and destroy our enemy. This is what our love of truth, demands of us.

Those Who Bless You Will Be Blessed

There are three instances in the Torah, where we have the verse that states, “Those who bless you will be blessed, and those that curse you will be cursed.”

The Keli Yakar pointed out that when Avraham was blessed by Hashem, and when Bilaam’s curse turned into a blessing, the order was blessing first, and curse afterwards. However, in Parshat Toldot, Yitzchak blessed Yakov in the reverse order of curse first, followed by the blessing.

The explanation for this change is that it was assumed that the blessing comes first in times of trouble. A blessing is needed to help us through our יסורים, or difficulties. The curse comes in good times, when one of our detractors, wants to harm us and wishes that we fall.

In Yitzchak’s case, he felt that Yakov would be confronted by those wishing to harm him, even when he was going through difficulties. He wanted to make it clear that such evil people, will fall hard, and the real blessings would be realized in the “end of days.”

It is fascinating how we can find appropriate hints from our Parsha, to relevant current events. The Jewish people need to be reminded that all of our enemies will perish. Those whose vicious hatred of the Jews dominates them, forget that they are messing with the G-d of Israel.

Rashi wrote that the haters of Israel, are haters of the G-d of Israel. This is a desecration of His name. It is as if they negate and degrade Hashem’s ultimate power. They will soon learn the extent of the phrase mentioned three times in the Torah; “Those who bless you will be blessed and those who curse you will be cursed.”

Prayer For Our Soldiers

It has always bothered me, that numerous Orthodox synagogues refused to say the prayer for the welfare of the soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces.

One very bad explanation for this was that the army was mixed between men and women, and promiscuous behavior often evolves. Another bad explanation is the so called “Daas Torah,” that supposedly represents the authentic view of the accepted rabbis, did not authorize it. This view assumes that the rabbis of the national religious camp, such as the followers of Rav Kook, are not as authentic as their rabbis.

It has also been disappointing that in most Chabad synagogues, the recitation of a chapter of Psalms, is a substitute for paying tribute to our brave soldiers.

The current situation following the horrific atrocities of October 7th, should be a reason to demand that every Shule must say the prayer for our soldiers, as well as the prayer for the State of Israel.

The way our soldiers are going out to battle, is in line with the Torah. They are given an inspiring talk from their commanders, which is followed by prayers, and the recitation of Shema Yisrael.

Many rabbis have compared the uniform of the IDF, to the priestly garments worn in the Temple. The Jewish people were in great danger, and our brave soldiers have been fighting with enormous faith and courage to protect ALL of the Jewish people.

The least we can do is pray for their welfare. We must demand this of every rabbi, and every synagogue all over the world.

Parents As Role Models

In the beginning of Parshat Toldot, the Torah makes a point of telling us that Avraham fathered Yitzchak. In contrast, when Yishmael was born, it says that he was Avraham’s son, but mothered by Hagar.

The Keli Yakar explains that we are being told which parent had the greatest influence on their son. Avraham was the dominant figure in Yitzchak’s life, and Hagar was the major influence of Yishmael.

This also explains why Yitzchak grew up to be a great Tzaddik, and Yishmael was a “wild man.” Both Hagar and Yishmael ultimately did Teshuva, but one’s character is formed during one’s youth.

Sara Imeinu was given credit with having the foresight to realize that she must keep her innocent and pure son, Yitzchak, far away from Yishmael’s negative influence. Avraham was not happy about this, but was told by G-d, to listen to his wife.

Parents need to understand the enormous influence they have on their children. The children watch their parents very closely. They see the flaws of their parents, as well as their strong points.

Parents should try to be deserving role models. They guide their children with their actions, much more than by their words. Children are smart and they see everything.

Rav Meir Kahane once spoke about this very subject. He was talking about young boys coming home from Hebrew school, all excited about telling their parents about Kashrut laws. They were hoping they would now have a kosher home.

The parents were ready for such a possibility, and they disappointed their children by telling them, “We didn’t send you to Hebrew school for that!” Rav Kahane’s comment was, “You can never fool a child, who will walk away thinking that he has phony parents.”

We must attempt to follow the example of parenting of Avraham, so that your child will grow up like Yitzchak. You certainly don’t want to be like Hagar, and end up with someone like Yishmael.

Three Trouble Spots

It is very timely to point out an important statement of our Sages regarding Eretz Yisrael. There are three places in Tanach, that give evidence to our right to this land, from the period of the Bible. And these three locations are heavily disputed historically, and today as well.

We just read of Avraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpela in Parshat Chayei Sara. Efron offered to give the cave for free, but Avraham insisted on paying for it, as an inheritance for the Jewish people.

We learn that Yakov Avinu purchased the city of Shechem, the burial place of his beloved son, Yosef. Shechem continues to be a hotbed of strife between the Jewish people and her enemies.

King David purchased the site of the Beit Hamikdash from the Yevusi, so that parts of Jerusalem belonged to the Jewish people for eternity.

Chevron, Shechem, and Jerusalem, are documented in the Tanach as belonging to the Chosen people. Perhaps that is the reason why we have known the most strife from these cities.

It is important to reaffirm the fact that our claim to Israel goes back, more than 3000 years. Our presence in Israel has been constant since we entered the land in the time of Joshua.

If people actually studied history, they would realize that the religion of Islam only began in the year 610. The claim of the Palestinian people is an absolute lie. There is no Palestinian people. It was created only at the time of the establishment of the State of Israel.

We are living in a time after October the seventh, where many falsehoods are being uncovered. We must cry out the truth as it will win in the end.

G-d Makes Matches

There is a Midrash that asks what Hashem is busy with in Heaven. The answer is that he is busy with matchmaking, as that is something very difficult to do.

There are three references to this idea, from the Torah, the Prohets, and from Scriptures. The first reference comes from Lavan and Betuel, Rivka’s brother and father. They use the words, מה׳ יצא הדבר, that this matter, meaning this match between Rivka and Yitzchak is from G-d.

The second example comes from the Book of Judges and the story of Samson. He becomes fixated with a Philistine woman. His parents were upset, but were not aware that מה׳ יצא הדבר, that this was part of a Divine plan.

And the third source is from Mishlei, known as the Book of Proverbs. In Chapter 19 verse 14 it says, מה׳ אשה משכלת, “an intelligent woman comes from Hashem.” This is also a matchmaking Pasuk. It is saying that if one is blessed with an intelligent and G-d fearing wife, it is a gift from Above.

Matchmaking seems to be even more difficult nowadays. Perhaps if people would pray more to G-d, asking for the proper mate, he might just answer. After all, He is the one making matches, anyway.

Importance of Mincha Service

The Talmud in Masechet Brachot discusses the origin of prayers. It gives two reasons for our daily prayers. One reason is that prayer takes the place of sacrifices. And the other reason is that they were decreed by the Patriarchs.

Avraham Avinu decreed the morning prayer of Shacharit. We learn this when the Torah mentions that he arose early in the morning.

Yakov Avinu decreed the evening prayer of Arvit. This is learned when it says that he expired in that place. This was a hint to our evening.

In Parshat Chayei Sara, we learn about Mincha from Yitzchak, who went out to meditate in the field towards evening. This meditation refers to prayer.

It is interesting to note that the Talmud makes a special mention of Mincha. “One should always be extra careful with the Mincha service, for Eliyahu Hanavi was only answered during the afternoon hours of Mincha.”

It is referring to the incredible showdown between the false prophets of Baal, and Eliyahu Hanavi. It was a very bold move on Eliyahu’s part, as he felt that the future of the Jewish people, was in danger. A fire came from the Heavens and consumed his sacrifice, and his prayers were answered, and it began to rain.

The Rabbis are suggesting that we do not overlook the brief afternoon service, known as Mincha. It has great importance and significance. It could be that we may find an even greater chance of having our prayers answered in the afternoon, than during other hours of the day.

Yitzchak’s prayers were answered, and he was blessed with a wife that was capable of replacing his saintly wife. We should keep in mind the auspiciousness of Mincha, to reach out to Hashem. He is definitely listening.

The Number 400

The brilliance of our Torah scholars, never ceases to amaze me. The purchase of Me’arat Hamachpela for 400 shekels is mentioned in the Parsha.

The Keli Yakar noted two other places in Tanach, where the number 400 was mentioned, and looked for a common denominator. He also realized that our first example concerned Efron, the seller of the cave.

He felt that the name, Efron, was an indication of his nature. He was called רע עין, or, of a bad eye. This is like Ayin Hara, the evil eye, indicating that Efron was very jealous, and not a good person at all.

The second time the number 400 appears, is concerning Eisav, and the 400 men, he brought, to wage war with Yakov. Needless to say, Eisav had Efron’s negative traits, and even surpassed him.

The third example of 400, referred to the size of David’s army. He used his men to protect a horrible person, named Naval. He was married to the saintly and beautiful, Avigail. Naval was extremely miserly, and refused to feed David’s soldiers, or show any gratitude.

His wife compensated David for her husband’s bad behavior. She brought Donkeys laden with food. Naval died of a heart attack ten days later, and David later married Avigail.

It is very impressive to see the vast knowledge of the Keli Yakar, and how he managed to make that connection to the number 400. There is so much joy to be found in the study of Torah. And it is available to everyone, to partake of it.

Finding a Spouse

Over the years, I would give classes on dating, and what to look for in a spouse. I would tell my students that there were certain points that were “deal breakers” from the outset.

The suggestion was to see if the potential spouse had the right priorities necessary to build a solid marriage and a proper, Jewish home.

There needed to be an appreciation for Torah study. This needed to be the foundation and anchor of the home.

There needed to be agreement of the importance of self improvement. Our role is to work on ourselves to become better and better people. And we need to help one another grow in spirituality.

A third point is to stay away from people who demonstrate a jealous nature. This often comes with feelings of entitlement. If this character flaw is found in a potential mate, it will never be possible to make them happy.

This week’s Parsha emphasizes what might be the most important trait of all. This was what Eliezer was looking for in his task of finding a wife for Yitzchak. We are speaking of a person that loves doing acts of kindness. Rivka demonstrated this as she showed that her nature was one of absolute Chessed. She was kind, giving, and generous.

A potential spouse needs to show these traits as well. If the world is built on Chessed, then certainly a Jewish home, and the relationship between husband and wife must be built on Chessed and acts of kindness.

Abraham’s Fulfilled Life

The Keli Yakar noticed a slight difference in the wording of the Torah, in describing the number of years, that both Avraham and Sara lived.

After telling us that Sara lived 127 years, the Pasuk ends with the words, “and these were the years of Sara.” In contrast, when we are told that Avraham lived 175 years, the Pasuk ends just like it did with Sara, but added two important words, אשר חי, “that he lived.”

The complete ending by Avraham was, “And these were the years of Avraham that he lived.” The Keli Yakar viewed these two extra words as being very significant.

Avraham’s life were filled with meaning and significance throughout his life. He really “lived” from a young age until his death. He was always accomplishing, and found fulfillment in all that he did. At three years old, he discovered G-d. He dared to be different and managed to make a huge impact on the entire world.

Sara, or any woman for that matter, does not have that same fulfillment. Women have to go through childbirth and raising children. In addition, they need to deal with taking care of their husbands, which also has its challenges. They are not as free as the man, because of all the duties placed on them. This is why it did not say, אשר חיתה, regarding Sara.

We can only emulate Avraham and his lifetime achievements. He was focused from a young age, as to what he needed to accomplish. We may not be expected to be Avraham Avinu, but it is never too late to gain a focus and determination regarding how we need to contribute to the world.

We begin with serious soul searching and self analysis. This should lead to a desire to do what is right in “the eyes of G-d.” After this, we learn to apply our G-d given gifts, to make our contribution.

The Jewish nation needs us at our best. All of us, can make a difference. Now, more than ever, the world needs to see the Jew, as the symbol of all that is good and decent. We all have a task. We need to go out there and fulfill it.

Death Wish

In Parshat Chayei Sara, there is a great deal of discussion regarding the small letter ״כ״ in the word, לבכותה. It is describing the mourning, eulogizing, and crying, after the tragic death of our Mother Sara.

The Baal Haturim gives the most bolden explanation to this unusual word in the Torah. He wrote that Avraham Avinu was not permitted to fully mourn for his beloved wife. This is because she fell into the category of one who has committed suicide.

He was referring to the time when Sara asked for “Din,” judgement, between her and Avraham’s maidservant, Hagar. She told Avraham that Hashem should judge between her and him. She wanted Hagar sent away, and her husband disagreed. Ultimately, Hashem agreed with Sara.

Nevertheless, the Baal Haturim insisted that asking for judgement, is actually, a death wish. This is the reason for the small letter ״כ״ and why Avraham could not fully mourn.

We must be so careful not to judge others. We must learn to give the benefit of the doubt in all situations. We must not count other people’s money, which is also a form of judging.

The last thing we could possibly want is for Divine judgement. If we judge others, G-d will judge us, and nobody could stand before His judgement-not even our saintly Mother Sara, was able to escape such judgement.

Jewish Debates

There is an interesting discussion related between Rabbi Akiva and the Roman, Turnusrupus. The Roman asked in a mocking manner, why we need to cut the foreskin of every Jewish male. Must we correct or improve the work of Hashem?

Rabbi Akiva responded that G-d also made wheat and barley, and we cannot benefit from them as they are. We must go through the process of harvesting and turning the wheat into flour, before baking bread. The finished product also requires fixing.

This is the reason why Avraham first offered the three angels bread. He was anticipating the possibility that they might make fun of him for doing the Brit Mila, just as Turnusrufus did to Rabbi Akiva. He showed them the bread as a reminder that it is upon us to perfect some of the things in this world.

Throughout our history, we have debated many scoffers of our practices. Jews always won these debates, and often the other side were “sore losers,” and killed the victors of the debate.

How sad it is today that after going through a one day Holocaust, we still need to justify our position, and our right to exist.

We are coming closer to that time when all of the world will recognize the truth of G-d, the Torah, and Judaism. All will acknowledge this truth, and no debating will be necessary. “On that day Hashem will be One, and His Name will be One.”

Sodom Like Behavior

The description of the people of Sodom, is that they were רעים וחטאים מאוד, “Very evil and sinful.” The evil was so great that Hashem had no choice but to destroy them.

When He speaks to Avraham, to explain why their destruction is necessary, He says that זעקת סדום ועמורה באה אלי, “The cries of Sodom and Gomorrah have reached Me.”

It is not a coincidence that this section is being read during this difficult period. We must be reminded of the evil that surrounds us. It must be completely eliminated. It is like a cancer that must removed at its root.

It is very difficult to comprehend the mind of an evil person, as their thinking is not anything that we can relate to, in any way. But we have now learned that if we delude ourselves, and do not accept the reality, we end up paying a heavy price, for our misplaced compassion.

It was particularly painful to hear from a captured terrorist, that he was a worker from Gaza, who was employed in one of the Jewish settlements near the border. He admitted that he supplied the other terrorists with information regarding the layouts and details of his place of employment.

Only now the government is saying that they will no longer employ Gazan’s in Israel. Reality is the best teacher. In the name of the holy Jews who perished, we cannot afford to take chances and make goodwill gestures.

Every Arab, whether in Israel or the territories, must pledge their allegiance to the State of Israel, and condemn the atrocities of October the seventh. If they refuse to do this, it is Sodom like behavior. They pose a threat to our security, and do not belong here.

Abraham’s Unique Faith

There is a question that is often asked regarding the “The binding of Isaac.” Why is this story seen as the ultimate act of sacrifice in the Name of G-d, when nobody died.

There were so many instances in history, where Jews gave their lives, sanctifying Hashem. Why not point to one of these incidents, instead of Akeidat Yitzchak.

Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkowitz said that the answer to this question comes from an apparently superfluous word. When Avraham is told by the angel, that he does not need to sacrifice his son, there is a little bit of confusion. The Torah tells us that Avraham lifted his eyes, and behold there was an איל אחר, a different ram, stuck in the thicket. The word, אחר, does not need to be written at all.

The Pasuk could be understood without it. Avraham lifted his eyes and saw a ram, and offered it instead of his son. Why was it written as an איל אחר, a different ram?

This extra word, taught the greatness of the faith of Avraham. His faith was so great, that he no longer saw his beloved son, as his son, but, rather as a sacrifice. This type of faith was rare. This is the reason for the extra word, אחר.

When fulfilling the word of Hashem, it must be done without hesitation or questioning.This is where Avraham was unique. The ram stuck in the thicket, was offered instead of the other intended sacrifice, Yitzchak. This is an extremely high level of faith, that Avraham possessed. We are to emulate such faith. This is why the chapter of Akeidat Yitzchak, is included in our morning prayers every day. We will never go wrong by putting our absolute faith in G-d. Avraham set the example of such faith. It led to the formation of עם ישראל, that will live on forever, with G-d’s help.