Akeidah: Heroism or Murder? I (Part 1 of 7)

How can we understand the Binding of Isaac as an act of heroism and not intended murder? Abraham, the first advocate for the theology of monotheism, commits his life to fighting a battle against Molech, the sacrifice of children, which was the most prominent act of polytheism of the time. How is it possible that the most outspoken opponent of murder could then dismiss his own will and rise up to sacrifice his own son Isaac? How can we view Abraham's decision as an act of heroism, deemed acceptable by our tradition? What does it teach us about our own will and its relationship to God's will?

Rabbi Fohrman grapples with the toughest of questions in this audio series on the Akeidah. By taking a close look at the story, he helps us understand if Abraham should be commended for his obedience to God – or condemned for nearly murdering his son?

Discover other great Rosh Hashanah videos at Aleph Beta, including ‘How To Prepare For Rosh Hashana”, “How To Do Teshuva”. and “The Two Trees In The Garden Of Eden”