לזכות רפואה שלימה אחינו כל בית ישראל הנתונים בצרה ובשביה
This week’s Parshah, Parshat Tazria, contains the direct commandment to perform one of the most integral Mitzvot for a Jew—the Mitzvah of Brit Milah [circumcision]. The Possuk states [Vayikra 12’ 3’], “...On the eighth day circumcision should be performed…”. This is one of three Mitzvot that are referred to as being an “Os”, or sign; the other two are Shabbat and Tefillin. Thus, the commentaries point out, a Jew should always have at least two signs attesting to their connection to Hashem and the Torah—during the week the Mitzvot of Tefillin and Milah combine to this effect, and, on Shabbat, in place of Tefillin, the Mitzvot of Shabbat testify to our identity as the chosen people.
Interestingly, Rokeach [Bereishit 21’ 3’] and Nachal Kedumim [ad. loc.] offer an astounding idea. The first person in the Torah to receive the Brit Milah at its appropriate time [on the eighth day] was our ancestor Yitzchak, as stated in the Torah [Bereishit 21’ 4’], “...And when his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him…”. The Mitzvah of Brit Milah cannot be performed at night [see Mishneh Torah laws of Milah Chapter 1 Halachah 8], and needs to be performed on the 8th day of the child’s life after birth. Thus, in total, you have 7 X 24 (hours) = 168, plus the additional first 12 hours of the 8th day [in Judaism, the day begins at night—hence, the first 12 hours of the 8th day are not valid for the performance of circumcision], which results in 180. The entirety of Yitzchak’s life was, in fact, 180 years, as stated in Bereishit 35’ 28’--“Isaac was a hundred and eighty years old when he breathed his last and died. He was gathered to his kin in ripe old age; and he was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob”.
The Rokeach [and Nachal Kedumim] point out, that Yitzchak lived one year for each hour of his existence until Avraham circumcised him-thus, he lived 180 years. This correlation clearly requires great study, but perhaps, a simple lesson to be gleaned from here could be that the Mitzvah of circumcision at least partially is representative of the fact that we must dedicate ourselves to the service of Hashem and the Jewish people; Yitzchak, who elevated himself to the highest level of humanity when he willingly offered his life at the Akeidah, epitomized this concept. Thus, his living one year for each hour of his existence until his Brit Milah highlights the fact that our goals in life must be in sync with our divine purpose and mission, and the Brit Milah serves as a reminder of where our focus and efforts should always be honed. And, just like Yitzchak lived out his life as an almost angelic being, earning eternal reward and life in the world to come, may we merit to take the lesson of this Mitzvah and succeed in following in his footsteps.
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.
Have a Great Shabbas.