I know that our Patriarch, Isaac was a very spiritual person, therefore I am not disputing his wisdom. However, someone once told me that it was as if Isaac was mentally retarded. Why would someone say such a thing about Isaac?

Can you please explain or rephrase your question about our Holy Patriarch Isaac?

Given that Avraham was able to pull off the wife/sister charade twice with Pharoah and Avimelech, and Yitzchok was not able to maintain the charade even once, there does seem to be an indication of being less in touch with things than Avraham, or less socially capable. Is this what you mean?

I believe what is being referred to that the midrash that the angels tears fell into Yitchak's eyes (when the heavens opened up to receive him at the Akida) and his eyesight was affected. Since the Akida is considered actually happening, Yitchak is considered sacrificed and he is the Karban Timemah (the pure or complete sacrifice (which could be mistralated as Tam, the one who does not know how to ask questions in the hagadah). As the Karban Timemah, Yitchak, unlike his father or son, could not leave the land of Israel and was not allowed to go to Egypt during a famine.

My understanding of these midrashim is that Yitzchak found the whole episode rather traumatic.

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Originally posted by Sam-:
Can you please explain or rephrase your question about our Holy Patriarch Isaac?

I am only asking why someone who studied Torah would call Isaac "a little mentally retarded." I apologize if you find the term unholy. I think that is discrimination against the disabled. I was only repeating what I heard and was wondering why someone who studied Torah would say that. I think Rob's and Lawrence Shore's answers may be reasons why it was said.

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Originally posted by Raybin:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sam-:
Can you please explain or rephrase your question about our Holy Patriarch Isaac?

I am only asking why someone who studied Torah would call Isaac "a little mentally retarded." I apologize if you find the term unholy. I think that is discrimination against the disabled. I was only repeating what I heard and was wondering why someone who studied Torah would say that.

I think Rob's and Lawrence Shore's answers may be some reasons why it was said.

Personally, I think he was on such a high level with G-d that he could not connect with the world around him very well, which made him seem "slow."

quote:

Originally posted by Raybin:
I am only asking why someone who studied Torah would call Isaac "a little mentally retarded." I apologize if you find the term unholy. I think that is discrimination against the disabled.

Actually the term "Mentally Retarded" is outdated, and the correct term to use today is "Developmentally Disabled".

But that's not what he said. It just goes to show you how old I am. I think the term is still used today, though, such as in the debate over executing the mentally retarded. Sorry, if I'm not supposed to use the term. I won't use the term in the discussion from now on if it offends.

No, I just thought that you found it offensive to suggest that Isaac could have had a disability. Since you emphasized that Isaac was Holy, suggesting that anyone Holy would not have a disability.

You can have a disability and be Holy.

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Originally posted by Raybin:
But that's not what he said. It just goes to show you how old I am. I think the term is still used today, though, such as in the debate over executing the mentally retarded. Sorry, if I'm not supposed to use the term. I won't use the term in the discussion from now on if it offends.

Don't worry about it. I think Sam was just a bit worried about the PC Police.

quote:

No, I just thought that you found it offensive to suggest that Isaac could have had a disability. Since you emphasized that Isaac was Holy, suggesting that anyone Holy would not have a disability.

Moshe had a disability; he couldn't talk properly.

However, the disability you suggest Yitzchak had, that I have never heard about.

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Originally posted by Yisroel Phillips:

quote:

Originally posted by Raybin:
But that's not what he said. It just goes to show you how old I am. I think the term is still used today, though, such as in the debate over executing the mentally retarded. Sorry, if I'm not supposed to use the term. I won't use the term in the discussion from now on if it offends.

Don't worry about it. I think Sam was just a bit worried about the PC Police.

Correct, as it is part of my field of work, i.e. working with the Developmentally Disabled population.

quote:

Originally posted by Raybin:
You can have a disability and be Holy.

I agree, but one has to be careful how one speaks about people who are holy and in general.

The persistency he showed in digging the wells, no matter how much he was bullied, and the agreements he was entering with neighbors, shows anything but a retardation. I think he realized that the land he had inherited for his progeny was where he was to settle, and he felt the need to keep looking for water for the nation of his children that was to come back from Egypt. But he must have been shaken heavily by the Akeidah experience, and maybe he did show some signs of what we today call autism, or Asperger's syndrome...

Raybin:

Why don't you ask the person who said that to you what they meant? We are all just guessing here. "No one knows what is the tote sack but the bearer."