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Toledot >
Toldos: Why Did Isaac Lose His Sight?
We know that
everything that happens has a purpose. As the Talmud says, "a person
does not stub his toe on earth unless they decree this upon him from
Heaven." Certainly, in the Torah text, nothing happens just for no
reason. In our portion this week, parashat Toledot, Isaac becomes blind in
his old age. Why did such a devastating disease afflict one of the most
righteous people ever to live?
- When Isaac saw the nasty, idol worshipping wives
of Esav, he began to get angry and loose his spiritual footing. G-d
spared Isaac any further upset by blinding him. Tanchuma
- The Torah says that bribery can blind the wise.
Since Isaac loved the meat of Esav’s hunt so much, he became blind
to Esav’s shenanigans. Tanchuma
- He was so upset with his daughters-in-law that
he grew old and lost his vision. Manuscript, midrash habiur.
- G-d wanted to prevent Isaac from blessing Esav.
Since Isaac was blind, he could be fooled. Tanhuma
- Isaac wanted affliction so that he could prepay
his dues for the afterlife. G-d obliged. Ber. Rabbah
- G-d didn’t want Isaac going out to market and
being ridiculed as the father of "that wicked Esav." Midrash
- Isaac was blinded during the binding of Isaac.
The angels were so upset that their tears fell from Heaven into
Isaac’s eyes. Ber. Rabbah
- Looking at the wicked makes you go blind. Gemarah
Megilah 28a
- He was blind because he was old. Rashbam
- Esav’s wives made so much incense smoke, that
he went blind from the incidental smoke exposure. Rashi
- He who turns a blind eye to his children’s
mischief, is destined to be blind altogether. The same thing happened
to Eli the High Priest. Seforno
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