The Akeidah story opens with a description of Isaac as the son "asher ahavta" (whom you love) but concludes by lopping off the modifier "whom you love." This suggests a quelling of familial love during Abraham and Isaac's hike up Mount Moriah.
The Akeidah starts out so innocently, but quickly spins out of control. This is no ordinary test, no ordinary form of service. God asks Abraham to sacrifice the son he loves: Isaac. This is not merely a decree of death for Isaac, but a decree that Isaac die at Abraham's own hands.
The portion Vayeira (God appeared) provides us with several examples of how we can change our world. This portion contains pain and turmoil including infertility, destruction of an entire community, the abandonment of a young mother and her child, and a test of faith through child sacrifice.
I sat by the water, moving from sun to shadow, listening to the sound of the slight breeze creating a ripple effect. In the sky, an occasional seagull, butterfly of cinnamon color, or airplane would fly by. The world was in constant motion, and yet I sensed a stillness
Torah Commentary
A Test of Fear, a Quest for Love
Abraham’s Test and Recognizing Our Need to Change
Cultivating Hope
Angel Spotting