Parshas Lech Lcha - "Who circumsized Abraham?"

By R' Shaya Maness

This week's Torah portion relates how at the age of 99 Abraham was circumcised. However, the verse does not state who circumcised Abraham, the verse tells us only that Abraham was circumcised. Also, in the same verse the Torah tells us that Abraham was circumcised in the ESSENCE of the day.

How is it relevant to Abraham's circumcision that is took place in the essence of the day? And moreover what is the connotation of the essence of the day?
The Alter Rebbe explained the above questions in the following. To preface with a question that is asked in Jewish holy books. And that being that the commandment of circumcision was the last commandment that Abraham fulfilled. He prior to the Torah being given observed the entire Torah including rabbinical decrees that would be enacted after the Torah was given. However, Abraham saved circumcision to be the last commandment that he observed.

Why did Abraham wait so long to be circumcised?
In addition to the literally circumcision of a Jewish child , also we find twice in scripture the concept of circumcision of the foreskin covering the heart. One time the Jews, so to speak are commanded to circumcise the foreskin covering there heart. And in a different verse, there is a circumcision that will be, so to speak, done by the One Above.
The Divine circumcision will take place when the exiles are gathered together and the Jews will collectively go out of exile.
The first form of circumcision of the foreskin of the heart, refers when the Jews return to there Maker, by removing those factors which impede there Divine service being in a proper manner.

The circumcision which the Jews orchestrate on there own is a prelude to the Divine circumcision of the foreskin which transpires when the Jews leave exile .
Therefore, Abraham wanted to go from step to step from a lower of holiness to a higher level of holiness. First he observed all the other commandments except for circumcision in order to merit to a more profound level of circumcision that was Divinely commanded.

Consequently, Abraham merited that not only that he was Divinely commanded to be circumcised. In addition the actual circumcision, so to speak, was performed by THE HOLY ONE BLESSED BE HE HIMSELF.

As mentioned before the verse in which Abraham is circumcised, does not mention who circumcised him. The basic implication being that measure for measure since Abraham had refined himself not to have any spiritual foreskin impeding his Divine service.
As the sages stated all the 3 patriarchs were chariot to the DIVINE WILL.
Thus, Abraham was Divinely circumcised in the essence of the day, meaning with an essential Divine revelation..

What took place with Abraham is similar to what will happen in the future to come when the Jews will return to Him. Consequently there will be no barriers a Jew and there FATHER IN HEAVEN. As the great sage Maimonides state that in the Messianic era delicacies will be numerous like dust. However, then a Jew will have such a spiritual craving they won't want any of the delicacies. And we should experience this spiritual bliss now.

Have a good Shabbos,