Letter to the Editor

Sir,

I’d like to comment on David Zucker’s article “Isaac Betrayed and Triumphant” (Vol. XXXVIII:3, July-September 2010). I don’t take everything 100% literally, but Isaac being depicted as a victim of both child and elder abuse bothered me. It seems that Jacob deserved to receive the leadership responsibilities which go with the birthright, as well as getting the blessings which his mother encouraged him to do. (He did not initiate the “deception” of his father). True, there are commentators who feel that Esau could have used some of these blessings and that this would not have affected Jacob in the future, but how can one equate this with “elder abuse”? Also, Abraham was commanded to do the Akedah. Why call this child abuse? Isaac did live a more introverted life after this awesome experience but can’t we believe that this stems from his feelings of special holiness, as being set apart as an offering? The Torah states: Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. He himself took the firestone and the knife; and the two walked off together (Gen. 22:6). It’s nice to explain everything in an ultra-modern psychological way, but Zucker’s article was too much.

Shoshana Sussman Silver Spring MD