Avraham's Legacy to his Descendants

by Rabbi Berel Wein

Why is Avraham so special? The Torah does not grant him the complimentary adjectives that it lavished upon Noach at the beginning of last week's parsha. His willingness to die on behalf of his belief in one God at the test of the furnace of Ur Casdim is not even mentioned in the Torah text. It was only inferred by the rabbis from tradition and a reference to one word - Ur - in the text itself.

So why is Avraham the father of many nations and generations and the spiritual ancestor and guide to so many millions in the world, even thirty five centuries after his death? The rabbis of Mishna Avot have long ago provided the answer to these questions. They stated that our father Avraham was sorely tested by life and the Creator ten times and he rose greater each time from the experience.

I have often thought that the most remarkable quality of the Jewish people is not necessarily or even mainly its scholarship and its contributions to the betterment of humanity, as much as it is its resilience. This resilience is personified in the life and vicissitudes of our father Avraham. To a great extent we all pray that we not be tested too often or too severely in our lives. Yet simply being a Jew and not deserting the cause of the Jewish people at the time of its need is a significant test.

Many are the critics and enemies of Avraham. Yet he never loses his faith. His hopes for humanity and his loyalty to the values that have guided his way in life survive all of his experiences in life. That is the Jewish definition of the quality of resilience that has become the hallmark of Jewish life throughout the ages.

I have also often thought that the most difficult tests in Avraham's life concerned members of his immediate family. Throwing one's self into a fire for an ideal or a closely held belief is not unique to the Jewish people. Even though we may be the leader in continuous world martyrdom we are not the only ones with such a history and value.

Perhaps that is why the Torah did not choose to stress the test of Ur Casdim in its text. But, it does tell us, in painful detail, of the betrayal of Avraham and his values and life style by his ungrateful nephew, Lot. How does one deal with such a disappointment? Yet Avraham goes to war to save Lot and his wealth and it is because of Avraham alone that Lot apparently undeservedly survives the destruction of Sdom.

Avraham's son Yishmael behaves like a wild beast in human guise. Parents may be helpless and even blameless regarding the behavior of their adult children, but the hurt that those adult children can inflict upon their parents with wrongful behavior is immeasurable. Yet Avraham does not waver, and at the end of his life he lived to see that Yishmael repented and returned.

It is the unwavering courage and tenacity of Avraham, in the face of all defeats, hurts, hostile enemies and false friends, that most impresses us about our father. This strength of constantly renewing resilience is the legacy that he has bestowed upon us, his generations and descendants.

Shabat shalom.

Rabbi Berel Wein- Jewish historian, author and international lecturer offers a complete selection of CDs, audio tapes, video tapes, DVDs, and books on Jewish history at www.rabbiwein.com

Defying Natural Order

by Rabbi Naftali Reich

In this week's Torah portion we find the moving exchange between Avraham and Hashem, in which Hashem promises to secure the Land of Israel for Avrahams future descendants. To this promise, Avraham responds, 'But I have no children that will perpetuate my values and spread them to the world at large' 'Whatever you give me is insignificant if the dreams that are closest to my heart remain unrealized'!.

Hashem directs Avraham to step outside, gaze up at the stars and count them. "So shall be your seed!" he promises. 'Your children will fill the world like the stars'.

It certainly paints a fascinating scenario. But why did Hashem require Avraham to first count the stars? What was the purpose of this exercise in futility? And are we truly as many as the stars. Are we not told by Hashem that we will always remain the smallest of the nations?

A scintillating insight is presented by the saintly Imrei Emes that addresses this very point. Hashem told Avraham to go out and count the stars and he immediately obeyed. Have you ever tried to counting stars? Before very long it becomes a frustrating and nigh impossible task. One soon forgets which ones were already counted and which ones remain to be calculated. Yet Avraham persisted in fulfilling Hashem's command. He continued to count until Hashem said "Enough"!

, "So shall be your seed." said Hashem. Your children too will assume seemingly impossible tasks to fulfill my slightest whim. They will scale mountains and traverse oceans in their quest for the truth. They will tenaciously abide by my Torah's teachings in the face of impossible challenge. They will remain locked in a transcendent bond with their Creator even under the most trying circumstances. Neither tantalizing material delights nor the dazzle and shine of humanistic and enlightened philosophies will seduce them.

Hashem was not simply comparing Avraham's descendants to the stars. He was promising him that his act of counting the stars--a seemingly futile task simply would be an indelibly etched into the genetic makeup of his progeny.

In the darkest hours of our history, confronted with barbaric persecutions and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the Jewish people tenaciously clung to the Torah's teachings, defying the natural order. This ability to exist on a sublime and transcendent plane is a spiritual force we inherited from Avraham, and it sprung from Hashem's promise to him that this force would be forever implanted in his descendants. When we are cognizant of these sublime powerful energies that are embedded in our genes we too can emulate our Avos Hakedoshim and realize our life's potential to its fullest measure.

Wishing you a wonderful Shabbas

Rabbi Naftali Reich

Text Copyright © 2013 by Rabbi Naftali Reich and Torah.org.

Rabbi Reich is on the faculty of the Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum Education Center