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26

October 26 • 2017

jn

spirit

torah portion

A Model
Of Wealth
And Humility

A

Parshat Lech Lecha:
Genesis 12:1-17:27;
Isaiah 40:27-41:16.

quick web search of the Detroit
Jewish News archives from the
past two decades will yield a
handful of covers featuring headshots
of some of our Jewish community’s
most successful businessmen who are
remembered for their gener-
ous charitable contributions.
in nicer places. Abraham, our
What many may not real-
patriarch, was not altered by
ize is that the founder of our
his accumulation of wealth.
faith was a wealthy business-
Recognizing the tendency to
man, too; and the Torah’s
be burdened by money and
first Hebrew might serve as a
possessions, Abraham main-
paragon of virtue for today’s
tain his kavod (honor) when
mega-wealthy.
he became kaved (wealthy).
In this week’s Torah por-
This is not always the case.
Rabbi Jason
tion, Abraham is command-
We tend to only see the
Miller
ed by God to lech lecha, that
positive side of enormous
he should leave his ancestral
financial wealth. But, it can
land and travel to a new place
also be burdensome. In our
that God would show him.
society, such a vast possession
Right after this Divine order, we are
of wealth requires much responsibility
informed about Abraham’s financial
and integrity. It catapults people into
status. V’Avram Kaved Meod (“Abram
the public eye, living life in a fishbowl,
was very rich.”) Our patriarch was
having every business decision scru-
rich in cattle, silver and gold. There
tinized, every investment maneuver
is much to be learned from this word
questioned. There are many advan-
kaved, or rich. The word most often
tages to a life of wealth, but it must be
used for rich or wealthy in the Torah
done while maintaining kavod.
is ashir. So we must be curious about
There is much to learn from our
the choice to use kaved here.
patriarch Abraham. He was wealthy,
In modern Hebrew, we use the
but he was also well respected and
word kaved to mean heavy, as in a
humble. A model for us in mod-
physical weight, but it can also mean
ern times, Abraham possessed the
a burden. Rashi adds another mean-
dignity to keep him from a life of
ing of kaved that we are familiar with
over-indulgence in material wealth.
from the fifth commandment of the
Many of the mega-rich tycoons in the
Ten Commandments kabed et avicha
corporate world of the 20th and 21st
v’et imecha (you must honor your
centuries were not paragons of virtue.
parents). Similarly, from the same root Their wealth became burdensome;
is the word for an honor that is given
they became greedy and many got
out in synagogue, a kibood. Finally, the into legal trouble before their ultimate
word kaved also means liver, which
downfall.
is the heaviest part of our body. So,
By and large, our community has
in the Torah portion, we learn that
been blessed with a disproportionate
Abraham is very wealthy and that the
number of mega-philanthropists who
term used to demonstrate his wealth
have used their fortunes for the com-
is an unusual choice.
mon good, bolstering noble causes
Kaved is used to tell us that
in our community. Like our patriarch
Abraham was weighted down with
Abraham, the pillars of our dynamic
many possessions because of his
community have maintained their
wealth, showing that it can be a chal-
kavod while being kaved. •
lenge to have a financial fortune. In
the very next verse, we learn that
Rabbi Jason Miller is the president of Access
Technology and the founder/director of
Abraham traveled from the Negev
Kosher Michigan, a kosher certification agen-
desert to Beit El “in stages,” which
cy. Follow him on Twitter at @RabbiJason.
Rashi explains as meaning that
Abraham took the same route on his
CONVERSATIONS
return staying in the same places he
Have you noticed behavioral differences
had lodged on his way down to Egypt
in friends or relatives who have become
before he had wealth.
wealthy suddenly? What are ways
This means that while Abraham
we can teach our children to make
is wealthier now, he has retained his
philanthropy a priority in their lives?
humility and doesn’t choose to stay

