Category Archives: Abraham

5777, Abraham, Genesis, Hirsch, Parsha, The Times of Israel, Vayera

Bad Examples

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Bad Examples

We are too quick to imitate depraved examples. –Juvenal

john_martin_-_sodom_and_gomorrah

The ancient biblical city of Sodom was considered particularly evil. God eventually decides to destroy the city and almost all of its inhabitants. However, before He does so, He notifies our patriarch Abraham. What then ensues is a surreal haggling between God and Abraham as to how many righteous people in Sodom it would take to save the city.

Abraham starts the bidding at fifty people and God agrees. Abraham quickly lowers the bid to forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty and finally ten. God agrees to each of Abraham’s offers. Abraham stops at ten, apparently understanding that he can’t ask for less than ten righteous people to save Sodom. It turns out there aren’t even ten. Sodom is subsequently destroyed in a dramatic telling in Genesis Chapters 18 and 19.

Rabbi Hirsch on Genesis 18:1 wonders as to why God informs Abraham of His plans and enters into the bizarre negotiation. Rabbi Hirsch explains that God wanted Abraham to understand and be aware of the evil of Sodom so that Abraham’s descendents should never become like the people of Sodom. They should beware of the horrendous example of those people.

However, the episode also demonstrates Abraham’s love of humanity. It didn’t matter to him how despicable the Sodomites were. They were human beings created in the image of God and he would make every reasonable effort he could, even arguing with God, to save them. Abraham was not an isolationist looking out exclusively for his own interests. He did look out for his family and allies first, but he did not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.

May we surround ourselves with and look up to good examples.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To the memory of Leonard Cohen. His music reached and inspired many.

 

5777, Abraham, Genesis, Hirsch, Lech Lecha, Parsha, The Times of Israel

Abraham the Individualist

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Abraham the Individualist

Not armies, not nations, have advanced the race; but here and there, in the course of ages, an individual has stood up and cast his shadow over the world. -Edwin Hubbell Chapin

individualistIn the very first recorded conversation between God and Abraham, God commands Abraham “Lech Lecha” which can be translated as “go for you” or “go to you.” Rabbi Hirsch on Genesis 12:1 explains that it is a command to “go your own way” or “follow your unique path.”

Rabbi Hirsch elaborates that one of the prominent beliefs during Abraham’s time was the primacy of the communal over the individual and the priority of centralization of authority rather than individual decision-making. It engendered the “tyranny of the majority” (a phrase originally seen in the writing of John Adams, and subsequently popularized by Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill).

Abraham, by leaving his country, his birthplace and his people, by demonstrating an unyielding belief in one God, by standing up to the entirety of the rest of the polytheistic world, indeed carved his own path. He demonstrated an unflinching capacity to do his own thing, to go his own way, to be his own person, to do what he knew to be correct though the entire planet thought otherwise. He is a model of the Individual, of the non-conformist, of the person who will take a stand for what is right though it is unpopular. His is the lesson that even if the majority believes in something or says something, it doesn’t necessarily make it right.

May we hold steadfast in our positive and unique paths.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To the global Shabbat Project and especially to those organizing it and celebrating it in their own unique ways in Uruguay.

 

5776, Abraham, Genesis, Joseph, Paintings, Parsha, Sfat Emet, The Times of Israel, Vayeshev

Delayed Punishments

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 Whenever a human being, through the commission of a crime, has become exiled from good, he needs to be reintegrated with it through suffering. The suffering should be inflicted with the aim of bringing the soul to recognize freely some day that its infliction was just. -Simone Weil

Joseph_and_Potiphar's_Wife

The Torah believes in punishment, either divine or court-inflicted. However, it generally comes from either a sense of justice and creating balance, or in somehow rehabilitating the evil-doer. It is interesting to note that the concept of a jail is almost completely absent from the Jewish legal code. There was either financial compensation, corporal punishment or the death penalty.

The Sfat Emet in 5637 (1876) asks how did God allow Joseph to be punished and placed in prison after he withstood the seduction of Potiphar’s wife, when according to the sages, it was a divine test greater than all the tests the Patriarchs endured. He answers that it was punishment for an earlier sin.

According to the Midrash, the ancient oral tradition that accompanied the written Torah, Joseph sinned when as a youth of seventeen he slandered his brothers to their father Jacob. But God postponed that punishment to a better time. That time is exactly after Joseph had performed an act of moral courage that transforms him and places him at a higher spiritual level. Now that Joseph is more righteous, two things happen. He somehow has greater strength and capacity to bear the punishment, but now, God is also more exacting with him and so the punishment must be meted out. In a way, Joseph’s newly acquired righteousness now forces him to confront and seek atonement for his earlier sins.

The Sfat Emet warns based on this episode, that if a person performs some great act or avoids serious sin, he shouldn’t be so quick to congratulate himself; as such pride may invite a closer examination of his past and bring down punishment for previous sins.

May we realize our mistakes and repent for them and so reach those higher ethical levels without paying a painful price for previous indiscretions.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication,

To Nobel Laureate Professor Dan Shechtman of Israel on his inspirational visit to Uruguay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5776, Abraham, Chayei Sara, Genesis, Parsha, Sfat Emet, The Times of Israel

Programmed Luck

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 I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. -Thomas Jefferson 

roulette-wheel

The servant of Abraham, named in the Midrash as Eliezer, is tasked with the mission to travel north-east out of Canaan to return to Abraham’s family in Haran and find a bride for Isaac. However, Eliezer has a conflict of interests.

According to the Midrash, Eliezer was hoping that Isaac would marry one of his own daughters thereby uniting the venerable servant to the family of the man he so admired. But Abraham prohibits Eliezer from allowing Isaac to marry any woman from Canaan, including Eliezer’s daughters, even if he should fail to find a bride for Isaac. Nonetheless, what choice would there be if Eliezer failed in his mission? If Eliezer were to return empty-handed from his search, then perhaps it would be better for Isaac to marry one of Eliezer’s presumably well-educated daughters rather than the local idol-worshipping Canaanites?

However, we see Eliezer acting honestly and nobly and even praying for the success of his mission. The Sfat Emet in the year 5632 and 5633 (1872 and 1873) explains that Eliezer was praying that he shouldn’t be biased. He prayed that he should fulfill his mission with completely pure intentions of finding the best bride for Isaac and completing Abraham’s wishes, despite his own personal hopes and desires. By suppressing his own private aspirations and staying purely focused on his mission, he merited unprecedented fortune in accomplishing his task. He finds the bride, Rebecca, our Matriarch, immediately – what are the odds amongst an entire city of people? Against family resistance, proposed delays and according to the Midrash, an assassination plot, Eliezer returns with Rebecca the very next day – his mission a historic and miraculous success – against all odds.

The Sfat Emet states that when one has a pure heart, God nullifies the very fabric of time and nature to assist man with his mission.

May we be so pure of purpose and lucky in our results.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To outgoing President of the Jewish Community of Uruguay, Alberto Buszkaniec. He has had purity of purpose and great success in his noble charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5775, Abraham, Baal Haturim, Genesis, Parsha, The Times of Israel, Vayera

Sacred Guests

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First posted on The Times of Israel at: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/vayera-sacred-guests/

Baal Haturim Genesis: Vayera

Sacred Guests

A guest never forgets the host who had treated him kindly. -Homer

In some ancient cultures, guests held a sacred and honored role. Once a person entered the tent or home of a host, they were under the host’s protection and cared for in every way.

We see this quite dramatically with Abraham’s wayward nephew, Lot. Lot, apparently attracted to the avarice of the Sodomites, settles his family next to the infamous city. However, he learned at least one thing from Abraham: Hospitality.

When the two disguised angels arrive in Sodom, Lot rushes to greet them and basically forces them to come as guests to his house.

The Baal Haturim on Genesis 18:5 explains that Lot was actually pained when he did not have guests and that the opportunity to host someone gave him great joy.

We see afterwards that Lot takes his hosting responsibility to such an extreme that he is willing to allow his own daughters to be harmed by a mob rather than permit anyone to touch his guests.

I don’t know if we need go to such lengths to make our guests feel comfortable, but there is something special in the bond that is created when people break bread together.

May we have occasion to enjoy both hosting and being hosted by members of our communities.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To Adrian Weiszman for spearheading the initiative of organized regular Shabbat meal hosting in our community. For more information contact proyectoshabatuy@gmail.com

5775, Abraham, Baal Haturim, Genesis, Lech Lecha, Parsha, The Times of Israel

Super-blessed

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First posted on The Times of Israel at: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/lech-lecha-super-blessed/

Baal Haturim Genesis: Lech Lecha

Super-blessed

Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence. -Og Mandino

After the failures of Adam, Noah and successive generations we are finally introduced to the first Patriarch, the founder of our nation, Abraham.

He was an outstanding personality. He rose to a higher calling against all opinion, pressure and odds. In return for his loyalty, his courage, his goodness and his example, God blesses Abraham.

The Baal Haturim on Genesis 12:2 enumerates seven blessings with which Abraham was graced:

  1. Abraham will become a Nation
  2. Abraham will receive great wealth.
  3. Abraham will receive a new name (Abram was switched to Abraham)
  4. Abraham himself will be considered a blessing.
  5. Whoever will bless Abraham, God will ensure that they in turn are also blessed.
  6. Enemies will be cursed.
  7. All families of the world will be blessed by Abraham.

May we live up to the example of Abraham and also participate in his blessings.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To Gabriel Boruchovas for going over and above the call of duty in making sure the Uruguayan Shabbos Project was a major success.

 

 

 

5774, Abraham, Chayei Sara, Genesis, Netziv, Parsha, Spanish

Para los padres de Solteros

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Netziv Génesis: Jaiei Sara

Para los padres de Solteros

“Las alegrías de padres son secretas, y también sus aflicciones y temores.” – Francis Bacon

Hay una alegría especial y única que un padre siente en el éxito del matrimonio de su hijo. Del mismo modo, hay un dolor especial y único que un padre siente cuando un niño no se puede conectar con el compañero de su vida.

Hay un gran debate, discusión y controversia en cuanto a la medida en que un padre debe estar involucrado en fomentar y facilitar el matrimonio de sus hijos. Obviamente, mucho dependerá de las personalidades individuales, la dinámica familiar, las relaciones y mucho más. Algunos padres son conocidos por acosar a sus hijos sobre el tema hasta el punto de dañar seriamente la relación entre padres e hijos. Algunos padres evitan el tema como si se tratara de un mandato divino de mantenerse alejado de siquiera insinuar el tema, pero luego dejan al niño sin ningún tipo de orientación o apoyo. La mayoría caen en algún punto intermedio, haciendo lo mejor para caminar por la cuerda floja de los sentimientos, emociones, esperanzas, expectativas y decepciones que la vida pone en nuestro camino.
Cuando es hora de que nuestro patriarca Isaac se casara, nos encontramos con su padre Abraham completamente en el asiento del piloto. Abraham le da la dirección, presenta las prioridades, la financiación, los recursos y la ayuda que puede aportar, para asegurarse de que su hijo se casaría bien. Todo el episodio es curiosamente precedido por la declaración de que Abraham era viejo. El Netziv en Génesis 24:1 explica que los detalles de la edad de Abraham son para aclarar a nosotros la razón porque Abraham no fue personalmente a buscar la novia de Isaac. Si hubiera sido más joven y más fuerte de la salud, el Netziv dice, Abraham habría tenido la obligación de viajar personalmente a Harán para garantizar la unión de Isaac con Rebeca.

El Netziv deja claro que el padre tiene la obligación de hacer todo lo posible, todo lo que está dentro de sus poderes y capacidades, (con diplomacia y sensibilidad), para alentar, apoyar y realizar el matrimonio de sus hijos.

Que podamos bailar en muchas bodas juntos.

Shabat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedicación

En memoria de mi abuela Zahava Rosenthal, en el primer Yarzheit desde que nos dejó. Uno de sus regalos y alegrías especiales fue emparejar parejas nuevas.

5774, Abraham, Chayei Sara, Genesis, Netziv, Parsha, The Times of Israel

To Parents of Singles

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[First posted on The Times of Israel at: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/chayei-sarah-to-parents-of-singles/]

Netziv Genesis: Chayei Sarah

To Parents of Singles

“The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grieves and fears.” -Francis Bacon

There is a unique, special joy that a parent feels upon the successful marriage of their child. Likewise, there is a unique, special pain a parent feels when a child fails to connect with their life’s mate.

There is much debate, discussion and controversy as to the extent a parent should be involved in encouraging and facilitating the marriage of their child, if at all. Obviously much will depend on the individual personalities, family dynamics, relationships and more. Some parents are known to harass their children about the topic to the point of seriously damaging the child-parent relationship. Some parents shy away from the topic as if it were some divine command to steer clear of even hinting at the issue, but then leave the child without any guidance or support. Most fall somewhere in between, doing their best to walk the tightrope of feelings, emotions, hopes, expectations and disappointments that life throws our way.

When it is time for our Patriarch Isaac to marry, we find his father Abraham completely in the driver’s seat. Abraham gives the direction, provides the priorities, the funding, all the resources and assistance he can bring to bear, to ensure that his son marries well. The entire episode is curiously prefaced by the statement that Abraham was old. The Netziv on Genesis 24:1 explains that the details of Abraham’s age are to clarify for us the reason Abraham himself did not personally go to seek Isaac’s bride. If he would have been younger and of stronger health, the Netziv says, Abraham would have had the obligation to personally travel to Haran to see to and ensure the matching of Isaac with Rebecca.

The Netziv makes it clear that a parent is obligated to do all they can, all that is within their means and capacity, (with diplomacy and sensitivity), to encourage, support and enable the marriage of their children.

May we dance at many weddings together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

In memory of my grandmother Zahava Rosenthal, on the first Yarzheit since she left us. One of her special gifts and joys was to match couples together.

 

5774, Abraham, Genesis, Netziv, Parsha, Spanish, Vayera

Obra de Moralidad

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Netziv Génesis: Vaierá

Obra de Moralidad

“Vamos con precaución a complacer el supuesto de que la moralidad se puede mantener sin la religión. La razón y la experiencia nos impiden esperar que la moralidad nacional pueda prevalecer en la exclusión del principio religioso.” – George Washington

Abraham llega a Grar, tierra de los filisteos con su bella esposa, Sara. Con el fin de protegerse de los hombres violentos, lujuriosos dispuestos a matar a un marido con el fin de reclamar a la esposa, Abraham y Sara asumen la apariencia de hermanos. Abimelec, rey de Grar, toma Sara para sí mismo. Dios interviene, advierte Avimelech en un sueño, Sara se volvió a Abraham y todos continúan con sus vidas interesantes.

Avimelech sin embargo se enfrenta a Abraham y le pregunta por qué mintió sobre su identidad. Abraham le responde que él no vio “temor de Dios” entre los filisteos. (Crónica del principio de Génesis capítulo 20).

El Netziv en Génesis 20:11 declara algo sorprendente. Afirma que los filisteos eran en realidad un pueblo civilizado y moral que en circunstancias normales no capturan a una mujer casada o recurren al asesinato para que puedan reclamarla. Sin embargo, Abraham sintió que su moral era relativista y no absoluta. Que vino de la convención social y no de la creencia, ni someter a sí mismo a la orden divina.

Debido a esto moral “natural,”  Abraham sabía que los filisteos tendrián un tiempo mucho más difícil para resistir la tentación. Sabía que iban a racionalizar la licitud de matar a Abraham para obtener a Sara. Eso es lo que le daba miedo: a la “moral” sin directiva de Dios. Moralidad hecha por el hombre ha sido y siempre será sospechoso.

Que podamos vivir de acuerdo con y unirnos con la ética que hemos heredado desde los días de Abraham.

Shabat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedicación

Para el Rabino Shmuel Eliahu y ​​Danny Sanderson – dos personas muy diferentes que me inspiraron esta semana. (Puede ver más detalles en mi blog (en Inglés), “Adventures”)

5774, Abraham, Genesis, Netziv, Parsha, The Times of Israel, Vayera

Morality Play

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First posted on The Times of Israel at: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/vayera-morality-play/]

Netziv Genesis: Vayera

Morality Play

“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” -George Washington

Abraham arrives at Grar, land of the Philistines with his beautiful wife, Sarah. In order to protect himself from lustful, violent men ready to kill a husband so as to claim the wife, Abraham and Sarah assume the guise of siblings. Avimelech, King of Grar, claims Sarah for himself. God intervenes, warns Avimelech in a dream, Sarah is returned to Avraham and all continue with their interesting lives.

Avimelech however confronts Abraham and asks him why they lied about their identity. Abraham responds that he didn’t see “fear of God” amongst the Philistines. (Recap of beginning of Genesis Chapter 20).

The Netziv on Genesis 20:11 states something surprising. He claims that the Philistines were actually a civilized, moral people and would not under normal circumstances capture a married woman or resort to murder that they may claim her. However, Abraham sensed that their morality was relativistic and not absolute. That it came from social convention and not from belief nor subjecting oneself to divine command.

Because of this “natural” morality, Abraham knew that the Philistines would have a much harder time resisting temptation. He knew that they would rationalize the permissibility of killing Abraham in order to get Sarah. That’s what he was afraid of: a “morality” without God’s directive. Man-made morality has been and always will be suspect.

May we live up to and attach ourselves to the ethics that we’ve inherited from the days of Abraham.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Danny Sanderson – two very different people who inspired me this week. (See “Adventures” blog post for more details)