When History Got Personal
The pace of the
narrative of the Torah abruptly changes with the events described in this
week’s reading. Until now the Torah has dealt with large periods of time and
many many generations and different numbers of human beings and nations. It
concerns itself apparently with a broad overview of the origins of human
civilization and of the formation of societies, tribes and nations.
Its narrative confirmed
the idea expressed so vividly in the story of the building of the tower of
Babel, that the individual human being was relatively unimportant in the grand
scheme of things and that individuals mattered little in the development of the
course of civilization and nation building. All of this dramatically changes
with the appearance of our father Abraham and our mother Sarah.
The Torah now dwells on details and the lives of individuals,
their hopes and disappointments, their struggles and achievements. The story of
the individual thus becomes the story of the world in its entirety. Judaism
teaches us that the life of an individual is really to be considered the life
of the world itself. We become privy to the innermost thoughts and aspirations
of Abraham and Sarah. We read of their great trials and the vicissitudes they
endure in following the path of goodness and holiness in a world that was
corrupted by idolatry and poisoned by violence and greed.
The story of mankind
becomes a stand-alone narrative. Even though the big picture is certainly in
the background, it is the actions and beliefs of individuals that truly set the
course for the further development of civilization and human kind.
How often do we feel
insignificant and of little consequence in the overall scheme of society,
government and world affairs. After all, in a world where millions of votes are
required to win a major election in democratic societies or where the rule of
police and government crushes individualism in totalitarian societies, of what
value is there to what an individual may think or believe.
But all of history has
shown us that it is the individual that sets the course for human civilization
and that literally a handful of people are responsible for the great changes,
defeats and definitive struggles that have marked human history from its onset
until today. I think this is the strongest lesson of the narrative of the lives
of our father and mother, Abraham and Sarah, as recorded for us in the immortal
words of the Torah.
The prophet Isaiah will
characterize our father Abraham as being an individual, one, alone and
different from all others. In this way his greatness has made him the founder
of the people who are smaller in numbers but enormous in influence and who have
fueled the progress of human civilization over the many millennia.
The rabbis have taught us that we are to attempt to be Abraham
and Sarah in each generation of human society. We are to represent what is
right and moral, lasting and valuable, to be righteous individuals in a world
that often loses its moral compass and godly direction.
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Berel Wein
Defying Natural Order
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 scintilating
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
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