In the aftermath of the momentous event of akeidas Yitzchak, an angel bestows Hashem's blessing on Avraham Avinu: "For I shall bless you and multiply your offspring like the stars of the heaven and like the sand on the seashore... and through your offspring will all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Bereishis 22:17-18).
Bemidbar Rabba (2:12) comments, incorporating the aforementioned verse into its presentation:
You find that Avraham was blessed with the stars, as it is stated, "Look now toward the heaven and count the stars...[and He said, ‘So shall be your offspring!'] Isaac was blessed with the sand, as it is stated, "For I shall bless you and multiply your offspring as the stars of the heaven [and as the sand on the seashore]." Ya'akov was blessed with the dust of the earth, as it is stated, "And your offspring shall be as the dust of the earth."
My great Rebbe, Maran Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht zt"l, founding Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, seeks to analyze the teachings inherent in these three comparisons: stars, sand, and dirt.[1] Furthermore, he asks, why is the comparison to sand attributed to the blessing to Yitzchak when it was stated to Avraham after the binding of Yitzchak?
In answer to these questions, Rav Goldwicht explains that the difference between stars and sand lies in their fundamentally different nature. Stars are uniquely noticeable; they each have their own "personality" as evidenced by the unique name given to each one by its Creator (see Tehillim 147:4). Sand, by contrast, is only significant in its conglomeration; each individual grain is hardly noticeable and of little import. In light of this distinction, Rav Goldwicht explains that Avraham Avinu, standing out as a "stellar" individual, surrounded by a world so distant from the truth, courageously spreading the message of G‑d to all who would listen, was blessed with descendants many of whom would be "stars" in their own right, forging an elevated path in the service of the One whom our father Abraham discovered in the star-lit nights of Mesopotamia.[2] I have also heard an idea that a star, while seeming like a tiny speck of light when viewed from the Earth, is, in reality, indescribable in its magnitude, totally dwarfing the Earth and, for many of them, even the sun. In the language of the Midrash (ibid.), each star is capable of totally devouring our planet.[3] So too, unique individuals within the Jewish people, while seeming ordinary, ultimately are absolutely magnificent in their spiritual stature from Hashem's perspective.
However, not all of Avraham's descendants would follow such an exalted path. Unfortunately, many would not follow in the footsteps of their outstanding ancestors. What would assure their continued existence? Yitzchak Avinu's willingness to offer his own life to obey G-d's commandment, the merit of akeidas Yitzchak, would guarantee the Jewish people's eternal existence even if they were not worthy. For this reason, the blessing of the sand is associated with Yitzchak who partnered with his father, Avraham, in the test of the akeida. Like all the millions of grains of sand of the seashore which collectively hold back the waves from flooding the land even though each grain is insignificant, so too, the collective of Klal Yisrael, regardless of their stature, would always survive.
What does Ya'akov's blessing, comparing his descendants to the dust, represent? The Midrash comments that just as dirt is constantly trampled upon, so too Ya'akov's descendants would be persecuted and abused through much of Jewish history. But, just as the earth continues to exist even after so much trampling and - perhaps we can add - becomes stronger by becoming more packed together, so too the Jewish people would always out-survive their persecutors. Rav Goldwicht explains that this also refers to the spiritual resilience of the Jewish people. Even if, through years of persecution and assimilatory trends, many of the Jewish people would be adversely affected, ultimately, "Once a Jew, always a Jew - "ישראל אף על פי שחטא, ישראל הוא!. The internal sanctity in the Jewish individual will ultimately lead to either his or at least his descendants' return to Torah observance.[4]
This past painful year for the Jewish people has demonstrated to all of us all of the blessings bestowed upon Klal Yisrael as stars, as sand and as dirt. The acts of individual heroism of those who rushed to the front - many of whom were not classically connected to halachic lifestyles as well as ongoing chessed projects spearheaded by dedicated individuals bringing both the spiritual armor of tzitzis, tefillin and siddurim to those on the front, and the physical armor of helmets, bullet-proof vests, night-vision goggles and more to the tune of millions of dollars, can only be described as "stellar" examples of our people. A religious soldier brought one of the Gedolei Yisrael to tears when, after losing both of his legs and one arm, asked him three questions. First, on which hand shall he place tefillin now? Second, how should he hold his lulav and esrog? Third, should he say the shehecheyanu on his prosthetic limbs when he receives them or when he first uses them? When hearing such stories, one can only think of the verse in Iyov (13:15): "הן יקטלני, לו איחל - even if He kills me, I will still long for Him!" Stories of soldiers diligently continuing Torah study in respites from battle abound.[5] At a shiva house, I recently heard from the father of a fallen soldier that his son[6] finished two masechtos while serving in Gaza! Stories of selfless kindness also have proliferated. As one example, a soldier, finding he was a match for a 3-year old leukemia patient, found the time to donate bone marrow in between battles!
But the collective of the Jewish people who have not yet risen to classic stardom are still surviving and, with the kindness of G‑d, still thriving. Economic activity and agricultural productivity - including in moshavim under constant missile attack[7], continues at a robust pace, alongside the constant sweet kol Ya'akov of tefila and Torah heard in shuls and batei midrash. The "sands" of the Jewish people miraculously continue no matter how much the "dust" of Israel is trampled upon.
We hear of so many stories of religious inspiration - soldiers and civilians taking upon themselves the observance of Shabbos or the mitzvah of tefillin for a lifetime realizing that אין לנו להשען אלא על אבינו שבשמים. The "dust" of Israel, as Rav Goldwicht teaches, will always return to their source! May Hashem continue to fulfill his promise to bless the "stardust" of the Jewish people, save us from our enemies, return all the hostages from captivity, return our chayalim from the battlefront after victory over our many enemies, and may we constantly recognize His protection over us, praise His name and move ever closer to His service!
[1] See Asufas Ma'arachos (Bereishis, "Birchas Haribui"). The editor (Rav Goldwicht's son-in-law, Rav Meirnik z"l) notes that the essay was not actually presented in this form by Rav Goldwicht, but it is based on his teachings.
[2] A paraphrase from Rav Soloveitchik's majestic Lonely Man of Faith.
[3] Current scientific knowledge, of course, wholly concurs with this midrashic teaching. Also see the Midrash for many other comparisons between the righteous and the stars.
[4] An interesting story is told of a secular, Israeli father who sued his son and his Yeshiva in Israeli court for becoming religious and causing him suffering. The presiding judge, who recognized the father from Europe as someone who gave up religion and caused his parents much sorrow, chided the father, "Just as you rebelled against your parents and caused your parents pain, your son is doing the same! Case dismissed!"
[5] One is reminded of Chazal's interpretation of the rebuke of the angel to Yehoshua (5:14), "'עתה באתי' - על ביטול תורה" - "'Now I have come' - concerning the stopping of Torah study" (see Megilla 3a). Radak wonders, "War is not the time for Torah study!" Many of our courageous soldiers have followed the simple message of our Sages!
[6] Hillel Eliyahu Ovadya Hy"d.
[7] I recently noticed on a carton of a popular brand of eggs in a local makolet the following note: "We proudly continue to supply these eggs even though we are under constant fire from Lebanon!"