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Why did God save Yishmael after he committed idolatry, adultery, and murder? The shiur reveals that Yishmael's destructive behavior stemmed from severe lack of self-esteem caused by Hagar's emotional neglect. His actions were desperate cries for attention rather than true wickedness, making him righteous in God's eyes.
This shiur provides a profound psychological analysis of Yishmael's character and behavior in Parshas Vayeira, addressing several perplexing questions from the text. Rabbi Zweig begins by highlighting the apparent contradictions in the Torah (תורה)'s portrayal of Yishmael: he is thrown out of Avrohom's house for engaging in idolatry, adultery, and murder (as Rashi (רש"י) explains the term 'metzachek'), yet when he is dying in the desert, God performs a miracle to save him, declaring him righteous at that moment. The key to understanding this paradox lies in analyzing Hagar's motivations and character. Based on Rashi's teaching that Hagar was Pharaoh's daughter, Rabbi Zweig explains that she came to Avrohom's household not out of spiritual conviction, but as a political alliance. Pharaoh sent his daughter to align with the most powerful figure of the time. Hagar's primary motivation was achieving a position of prominence as the mother of Avrohom's heir, not genuine maternal love.
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Parshas Vayeira 21:9-21, 25:9
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