At the beginning of Parashat Toldot, Yitzchak is referred to as “Yitzchak, son of Avraham,” but the text then goes on to note, “Avraham begot Yitzchak.” The reader is perplexed: is this statement of lineage not a reformulation of what has just been said? Indeed, on the level of objective fact, it says exactly the same thing. In terms of inner essence, however, the focus is quite different. In the phrase, “Yitzchak, son of Avraham,” the subject is Yitzchak, and these words serve as an introduction to the description of his life and works. The fact that he is referred to as “son of Avraham” points to his direction, his source of inspiration. However, the text does not suffice with this statement of lineage, but invites us, as it were, to view the matter from a different perspective, where the subject is Avraham. It is Avraham who is dominant; it is he who bore Yitzchak and molded his character. A powerful paternal presence emerges from this description. In this shiur, we will embark on a journey through the text to locate the roots and essence of this presence.
