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Torah Portion
Abraham And Sarah's Faith Reveals
The Treasure Of Our Jewish Soul
10 tests of faith in God. God is
described as all-knowing and not
limited by time, meaning that God
knew how Abraham would fare in
the tests before they were given. If
so, why give them?
Our just and kind God does not
his week we learn about
test beyond the capacity of the test-
the first Jews, Abraham
ed. In other words, God knows that
and Sarah, and the first
the individual being tested can pass
rebels — also Abraham
the
test; He knows if the individual
and Sarah.
will pass. The ultimate purpose of
They were the first successful
the test, however, is to allow the
proponents of ethical monotheism,
individual to actually pass it.
the philosophy positing that there is
It is to the individual's
only one God who created
advantage
to be tested and
the entire universe and is
to
pass
the
trial. It boils
involved in this universe:
down
to
the
difference
Since He has a purpose for
between potential and
it all, it behooves people to
actual. If a student has
internalize this purpose in
great potential but never
daily life.
activates it, the potential is
Abraham and Sarah had
wasted. If a challenge is
a unique approach. They
never thrown our way, giv-
enthusiastically shared their
ing
us the chance to rise
views with the people they
to
it,
this great gift of ours
ITTY
came in contact with. This
is wasted.
SHEMTOV
they did despite the great
Faith enables the
Special to the
personal peril involved;
human
being to soar above
Jewish
News
monotheism shook the self-
all
other
creations. Every
deification of the ruling
Jew has an inborn faith in
warlords to its foundations and
GQd. We got_it from Abraham and
IliTingta –sYciYtYWIfICairtfriheard
Sarah. And like any other quality, if
of heresy. Abraham and Sarah
it's not expressed, it will hibernate.
taught us how to share a treasure
Sometimes, our natural faith is so
with everyone in a caring and loving
untouched, it's almost gone.
way.
-
Nevertheless, we are promised that
Catching up with my e-mails
it is still there, like a hot coal that
after the High Holidays, I stumbled
only needs a little wind to bring out
upon this encouraging message from
that inner flame. So, too, it is with
a family that participated at the
the Jewish soul: It needs to be
Shul's High Holida)t services:
c,
fanned through Torah study, prayer
... we felt welcome; we felt unit-
and acts of kindness.
ed with others ... we felt comfort-
Those of us who feel our souls
able that no one was judging us; we
within need to embrace and reach
felt the love of Judaism which was
out like Abraham and Sarah, who
expressed with much passion. And
taught us how to share a treasure
that, to us, is what Judaism is —
with everyone in a caring and loving
and should be all about."
way.
Having opened our doors in time
When we are successful in reveal-
for Rosh Hashanah, I couldn't help
ing the soul within each and every
but feel overwhelmed by the warm
one of us, we will be successful in
and open way the community
achieving the ultimate and open
responded to yet another opportuni-
revelation of godliness in the era of
ty to connect to God and our peo-
redemption with the coming of our
ple. This message put it in words,
righteous Mashiach (Messiah)!
which helped me to crystallize our
goal as a people.
Abraham and Sarah's inner
strength earned them the title of
patriarch and matriarch of the
Jewish people. Our commentaries
Discuss some of the trials (tests)
explain that they successfully passed
that faced the Jewish people
throughout our history and dis-
Itty Shemtov is the rebbetzin of the
cuss what strengths of character
Shul-Chabad Lubavitch. She lives with
came from passing them.
Shabbat Lech Lecha:
Genesis 12:1-17:27;
Isaiah 54:1-55:5.
T
❑
Conversations
her husband and children in West
Bloomfield.