If you are looking for an example of Hagar's callous view of her son's death, a better example is how she set him down against a plant and walked two bowshots away, lest she see him die. Her instinct was to turn her gaze away rather than to comfort her son! -1/0-/2001
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Rabbi Kamenetzky's interpretation is fascinating, yet I have a question. Yishmael was not only Hagar's son, he was Avraham's son too. Even though his mother may have been joyful over her son's rather negative blessing, and she may actually have encouraged the development of his murderous tendencies, didn't Avraham's great moral sense instill any conscience or regret in him? Being Avraham's son, he should at least have the propensity to think before he acts. Doesn't he absorb anything from Avraham? Why doesn't he see how Avraham cared and prayed for complete strangers with diametrically opposite views from his own, and learn to at least care for his own brother? - B. W. -1/0-/2001
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Maybe it is also a story to us as parents to sow good into the lives of our children.I also remember the story of Eli who ignored G-d,thankfully his seed was cut off.Sow the good stuff reap the good stuff!! - I. F. -1/0-/2001
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Thanks for giving us this info., it helps to explain why we as Christians or Jews are hated, & considered infidels.
God bless! -1/0-/2001
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Interpretation of text is an important Jewish tool, never to be abandoned; however, if there are many possible interpretations, some of them should not be shared. This is one of them. I am sure that the rabbi did not mean anything hurtful by his remarks. He is probably, like the rest of us, trying to make sense of the senseless events of the past year and the past month. Suicide bombers are not part of our culture--we hold the value of human life to be the most precious of commodities. However, the rabbi's interpretation was hateful and harmful and he should rethink it and retract it. I cannot remember a time when I felt that strongly about an interpretation of Torah. Hagar, like many characters in the Torah was a person of faith who accepted the words of HaShem and trusted them. But even if we accept the story exactly as the rabbi told it, it does not in any way explain the genetic make-up of today's terrorist. An attitude, a behavior--these things are not genetic, are they?
Furthermore, we do not accept the notion of predestination. Each and every Arab mother and child can decide for themselves the path of good or evil. They are not bound by their genetics anymore than their Jewish cousins.
There are at least 69 other interpretations to this text--look for yourself. -1/0-/2001
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You asked an amazing question which got me to look at the meforshim on it. First of all, even though most do say that Hagar heard bad things about Yishmael's future(stealing, murder, wars) there is a rule in drush that Chazal darshined l'gnai(for bad) verses very often with hindsight. Meaning once a person became wicked, we look back on the verses and see how it was hinted to. But not that Yishmael or any other wicked person started out with a definite evil personality. He had free will just as the rest of us and had potential to use his traits for good but later chose not to.(see Introduction to Ain Yaakov from the Maharitz Chiyus that we darshin wicked l'gnai. . . ). So, it is probable that Hagar did not hear bad reports about Yishmael at that time. We interpret it later like that(Rashi, Ramban) after history has shown who Yishmael is.
The Even Ezra learns that 'Pereh Adam' does not mean 'wild man' but 'free man'. This makes sense in terms of Hagar's main problem with living with Sarah. She did not want to be subordinate. The angel tells her that her son would also be a great nation(Yado Bakol. . . ) and be involved with everything in the world. He will be important and numerous too.(see verses in the parsha). So, Hagar did not neccesarily hear bad things about Yishmael's future.
In addition, it is very difficult to believe that Hagar, who was obviously a unique and spiritual person in giving up the glory and grandeur of Phaaroh's palace to be a servant in Sarah's house, would react with joy to such an evil report about her son. Would Avraham bond to have a child with such a person? There is much depth in Hagar's spiritual level. We know that she later repents and comes back as Ketura. It is hard to accept that she, at her great level in meriting being a wife of Avraham, would react happily to news that Yishmael would be a terrorist, etc.
These are my thoughts. I'd love to hear Rabbi Kaminetzky's or others. Please email me.
Nonetheless, a great article! - B. L. -1/0-/2001
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Dear Rabbi Kamenetzky,
Thank you for clarifying this problem of human depravity. The problem is that most people are clueless about their history.
- C. B. -1/0-/2001
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Dear Rabbi Kamenetzky, let us not forget that Ishmael is also a child of Avram. As a student of Torah and Biology, I must ask if such a genetic problem truly exists. Yet, while I strongly question your ideas, I am just as shocked as you are at the attitude of those parents. But could one say that Avram's attempted sacrifice of his son was as cruel? I write not to undermine but simply to question. - J. . -1/0-/2001
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