Who are Abraham and Sarah’s other descendants?

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

SAN DIEGO–This week’s parasha begins with Yitzchak’s genealogy: “These are the generations of Yitzchak the son of Avraham. Avraham begot Yitzchak.” (Gen. 25:19)

Usually when we think about generations of human beings and their descendants we are referring to their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and other family members of the next generation; those that will remember and who will attest to the lives and qualities of all who have come before.

Our sages, however, suggested another type of “descendant” a human being can have, one which can also attest to who they were and remind others of the types of lives they led: “Good deeds are the descendants of the righteous.”

Our sages remind us that people are not only remembered by their descendants, but also through all of the mitzvot and acts of loving-kindness they performed while they were living.

One of the ways people leave their mark on this world after they are gone is through parenthood – through their children and grandchildren, and other family members. But another way is by their touching the lives of others and by contributing to tikkun olam, the betterment of our society and planet.

It is with this thought in mind that our sages suggested another interpretation of the opening line of our parasha, “These are the generations of Yitzchak the son of Avraham. Avraham begot Yitzchak.”

From this verse are foretold the good deeds that Isaac would perform and why he would perform them. Isaac would go on to live a helpful, fruitful, and happy life because he always remembered that Abraham was his father. As Yitzchak went through his life, he always kept his father, Abraham, and mother, Sarah, in mind.

He thought about the kinds of loving human beings they were, how much they dedicated themselves to their family and to the world, their faith in God and willingness to fulfill the Holy One’s mitzvot. Yitzchak kept his parents’ righteousness in mind and before he did anything, he asked himself if he would bring honor or disgrace to his family.

The actions we take and the decisions we make reverberate in the lives of those around us. Before we do anything we must consider not only how our actions affect and reflect on us, for but also how they affect and reflect on our families and society.

When we come to the tough decisions in our lives we need to ask ourselves: is this what my parents and grandparents expect of me? Is this what my faith and tradition demand? If Abraham and Sarah were looking at me, would they be smiling and nodding their heads in joy, or questioning if I were truly their descendant and the recipient of the faith they began? Will the life I lead be a life which will be a sanctification of God’s name or will I bring shame to God?

May all of us learn how to live as worthy descendants of Abraham and Sarah.

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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego.  he may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com