Rav Yitzchok Hutner quotes Rav Itzele Peterburger, who provides an electrifying approach to explain the offer of Yitzchak Avinu. The Gemara in Berachos (17a) records the various bakoshas, requests, that certain Amoraim included at the end of their Shemonah Esrei.
R’ Alexandri would conclude with the following prayer:
רבון העולמים ,גלוי וידוע לפניך שרצוננו לעשות רצונך ,ומי מעכב ?— שאור שבעיסה ושעבוד מלכיות . יהי רצון מלפניך שתצילנו מידם ,ונשוב לעשות חוקי רצונך בלבב שלם. - “Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that our will is to perform Your will, and what prevents us? The yeast in the dough (i.e. the yetzer horah that is within every person), and the subjugation to other kingdoms. May it be Your will that You will deliver us from their hands, of both the evil inclination and the foreign kingdoms, so that we may return to perform the edicts of Your will with a perfect heart.”
It is the deepest desire of every Jew to live according to the dictates of the Torah. We genuinely do not want to commit any aveiros. However, we have two main impediments that prevent us from fulfilling the will of Hashem: 1) The onslaught of the yetzer horah, and 2) The influence of the nations of the world among whom we are exiled. Living among the umos ha’olam exposes us to attitudes, values, and perspectives that hamper our quest for purity and connection to Hakodosh Boruch Hu.
Rav Itzele Peterburger (cited in Pachad Yitzchak, Purim, Inyan 8 ois 3) uses this Gemara to explain the argument of Yitzchak Avinu. Yes, Klal Yisroel has sinned. But where does sin come from? It derives from two sources, from the yetzer horah and from Eisav, the nations of the word to whom we are exposed.
It as if Yitzchak were telling Hashem, “You are responsible for giving Klal Yisroel the yetzer horah! Palga alayich! Half the cause of sin is on you, Hashem. It is your fault the Yidden have a yetzer horah. As for the other cause of sin, Eisav, the progenitor of the nations and their negative influences, that’s my fault. I will accept responsibility for my part – palga alai – and You accept responsibility for the other half.”
This is the argument with which Yitzchak Avinu will rescue us in the End of Days. He will recommend to Hashem that they together bear the responsibility of Klal Yisroel’s sins.
