Chasidut zu Bereschit 16:19
Baal Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov of blessed memory said on the verse (Gen 16:6) "Make an opening for the ark (teivah)" - one should let light flow into the word (teivah) of prayer. The verse continues, "closing up to a cubit above" -- meaning, one draws sustenance to the Shechinah from above.
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Baal Shem Tov
I heard in the name of the Baal Shem Tov of blessed memory, that he explained the verse (Genesis 16:6) "Make an opening for the ark (teivah)" - one should turn the words (teivah) of Torah and of prayer into an illuminated opening, to look and see from the beginning of the world until its end.
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Kedushat Levi
Genesis 16,8 or Genesis 16,11., “The angel of G’d said to her (Hagar) etc.” It is somewhat surprising that whereas Manoach upon realizing that he had seen an angel was afraid that he would die forthwith, (Judges 14,22) Hagar did not react with fear at all. The reason may be that the angel which appeared to Hagar had appeared as an angel in the garb people expected angels to appear in. The angel that had appeared to Manoach and his wife had assumed human form, though he had looked awe-inspiring, so that Manoach and his wife had assumed that he was merely a prophet. When upon his departure to the celestial regions in the smoke rising from Manoach’s offering, it turned out that they had seen a heavenly being, Manoach reacted with fright, and his wife had to calm him by showing that his fear was quite unreasonable. (Verse 20-23 there).
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Kedushat Levi
Genesis 16,8 or Genesis 16,11., “The angel of G’d said to her (Hagar) etc.” It is somewhat surprising that whereas Manoach upon realizing that he had seen an angel was afraid that he would die forthwith, (Judges 14,22) Hagar did not react with fear at all. The reason may be that the angel which appeared to Hagar had appeared as an angel in the garb people expected angels to appear in. The angel that had appeared to Manoach and his wife had assumed human form, though he had looked awe-inspiring, so that Manoach and his wife had assumed that he was merely a prophet. When upon his departure to the celestial regions in the smoke rising from Manoach’s offering, it turned out that they had seen a heavenly being, Manoach reacted with fright, and his wife had to calm him by showing that his fear was quite unreasonable. (Verse 20-23 there).
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Kedushat Levi
Genesis 16,12,” “his hand raised against all, and everyone’s hand raised against him;” (normal translation)
Our author, basing himself on Zohar II 32, understands the word כל in this verse as ברית, covenant. This has been expounded upon in שערי אורה, [a book authored by Rabbi Joseph ben Avraham G’iktiliyah, a disciple of the famed Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. Ed.] The word ידו refers to the power and authority enjoyed by Ishmael. To the question why Ishmael had been endowed by G’d with such greatness, the answer is that this was the reward for his agreeing to have himself circumcised at an age when this is extremely painful. There is, however, a minor difference between the type of circumcision performed on Ishmaelites and that performed on Jews, i.e. an extra thin membrane around the glans being removed in a halachic circumcision. This is hinted at in the word יד. The last word כל, hints that the other nation with whom G’d has a covenant based on circumcision, Israel, will eventually overcome Ishmael.
Our author, basing himself on Zohar II 32, understands the word כל in this verse as ברית, covenant. This has been expounded upon in שערי אורה, [a book authored by Rabbi Joseph ben Avraham G’iktiliyah, a disciple of the famed Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. Ed.] The word ידו refers to the power and authority enjoyed by Ishmael. To the question why Ishmael had been endowed by G’d with such greatness, the answer is that this was the reward for his agreeing to have himself circumcised at an age when this is extremely painful. There is, however, a minor difference between the type of circumcision performed on Ishmaelites and that performed on Jews, i.e. an extra thin membrane around the glans being removed in a halachic circumcision. This is hinted at in the word יד. The last word כל, hints that the other nation with whom G’d has a covenant based on circumcision, Israel, will eventually overcome Ishmael.
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