Rabbi Schapiro on the Parshah: Vayeira

Response to CB While it's true that Hashem commanded Avraham to circumcise Yitzchok, Yitzchok had no say in the matter and thus it seems like although Hashem decided, Yitzchok didn't... Reply

without prejudice you missed the whole point. the point is not that Ishmael was bad. the point is that Yitzchak's circumcism had an advantage over Ishmael's. So much so that it is a totaly different mitzvah than Ishmael's. In other words the bris of Ismael was his bris with hashem he made it, his choice. The briis Yitzchak made was from Hashem, in other words Yitzchak didn't make it but rather Hashem made it. So Yitchak's bris is a true expression that the bris comes from Hashem. Reply

Prejudice Against Ishmael Seems like no matter what Ishamel says or does is bad. Well, I think that Ishamel is right. Bris at 13 is far greater than at 8 days old. An 8-days old baby does not perform any mitzvas, period--no matter what mental rabbinical backflips you guys come up with. Reply