mi
l TORAH PORTION 1
WARNING
Abraham's Passion
Must Now Be Renewed
RABBI IRWIN GRONER
D
Special to The Jewish News
wring the course of
these weeks we are
reading the stories
about Abraham, Sarah and
their family. What distinction
has earned for them the
designation of the first
Jewish family? Why were
they designated as models of
that greatness which the
Jewish people was to seek in
all the subsequent
generations?
It is difficult to define
"greatness" and it would be
hazardous to reduce it to one
trait. But despite this risk, I
believe that the guiding prin-
Shabbat Vayera:
Genesis 18:1-22:24
11 Kings 4:1-37
ciple in the lives of Abraham
and Sarah that made them
unique was a fierce and un-
wavering enthusiasm for vir-
tue. It is not correct to say
that Abraham had an in-
terest in justice; he had a pas-
sion for justice. he loved
righteousness with an in-
tense and persuasive
enthusiasm.
Hospitality was a practice
in many families in the an-
cient Near East. But
Abraham ran to receive
strange visitors. He hastened
to prepare food for them. Ac-
cording to our tradition,
Abraham's home was con-
structed with four separate
entrances, one on each side, so
that weary wanderers of the
desert would have immediate
access to his abode.
Abraham's passion for
justice was so fervent and
zealous that he was willing to
enter into a confrontation
with the Almighty. When
God was about to bring
destruction upon the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah, Abra-
ham argued with Him. It is
hard to find another figure in
the Torah, who was daring
and courageous enough to
challenge God and declare:
"Shall the judge of the whole
world not do justly?"
The sheer forcefulness of
Abraham and Sarah's spirit
attracted the loyalty and
devotion of their contem-
poraries. The Bible intimates
that they attracted converts
Irwin Groner is rabbi at Cong.
Shaarey Zedek.
to their way of life; not
necessarily because of their
convincing arguments, but
rather by the power of their
conviction.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
wrote: "Every great and com-
manding movement in the
annals of the world is the
triumph of enthusiasm —
nothing great was ever ac-
complished without it." That
explains the achievement of
Abraham.
Were Abraham alive today, I
believe he would not be
glorified as a celebrity, he
would not be sought after by
talk shows or make the
headlines of newspapers.
Such dubious honors would
be extended to the leading
citizens of Sodom and Gomor-
rah because their daring ex-
ploits in criminality, degen-
eracy, sexual perversion and
depravity would make them
folk heroes of popular culture.
Were Abraham with us, he
might notice that his spirit is
not in great evidence among
his descendants. American
Jews are favorably disposed
toward their tradition, but en-
thusiasm is not the identify-
ing quality of this relation-
ship. The spirit of our time
was captured very well by the
little boy who recounted his
experiences in religious
school to his parents, declar-
ing: "I don't mind going to
Sunday school, I just don't
want to get involved."
Belonging is not usually ac-
companied by spiritual devo-
tion. Jewish life is not
generally marked by a high
level of spiritual fervor. After
we experience the emotional
intensity of the High Holy
Days, after we share in wor-
ship with a large congrega-
tion in a spirit of reverence
and common loyalty to our
faith and heritage, we des-
cend every year from that
peak experience to the
months when we feel the
absence of so many of our peo-
ple whose presence could en-
courage and uplift their
hearts and ours.
The story of Abraham is a
message not only for more
Jewishness, but for greater
intensity, for more committed
Jewish identification, for lov-
ing Jewish observance, for
deep involvement in Jewish
education, for a Jewish life of
beauty and dignity. A
philosopher once said: "No
virtue is safe that is not en-
thusiastic." In rereading
Abraham's life, we are sum-
moned to renew his spirit.
There's Nothing
Like Peace
Of Mind
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