spirit

torah portion

National Pride
Is Universal

T

he Jews know the dangers of
else. At the same time the national
extreme nationalism,
covenant is given, Abram’s
which has led to anti-
name changes to Abraham
Semitism and fascism, and
(verses 4-5) – “I am making My
the dangers of the rejection
covenant with you (exclusively)
of all nationalism, which has
while (at the same time) you
led to Soviet communism
are becoming the father of
and to anti-Zionism.
many nations.”
In Lech Lecha, Abraham,
Maimonides uses this verse
Rabbi Asher
Sarah and God search for
to
prove that a convert has
Lopatin
a way of balancing the
the most prestigious lineage
Contributing Writer
creation of a proud Hebrew
because he is the child of
people and the need to
Abraham; Abraham is the
Parshat
impact the entire world
Lech Lecha: father of all nations. In fact,
beyond our nation.
the nation that comes from
Genesis
In Chapter 14, we read of
12:1-17:27; Yishma’el is blessed in this
a war of the great powers,
chapter (verse 20) even though
Isaiah
the Four against the Five.
40:27-41:16. the covenant is destined
The Four powers are on the
exclusively to continue through
verge of defeating the Five
the Jewish people, through
powers (verses 10-11) until Abram
Isaac.
comes to the rescue (verse 15). Yet
Our parshah is making an
the only reason Abram saves Sedom
important argument about
and the other Five powers is that he
nationalism and universalism: They
heard that his nephew Lot was taken
do not contradict. The nationalism
hostage (verse 14). Were it not for
of the covenant, the bris, the Land
that, Abram would have no interest
of Israel and the universalism of
in this war, which did not concern
Abraham’s new name and new
him.
sensitivity to Sedom must go hand
Yet, after his circumcision
in hand. Our own Jewish pride, our
(Chapter 17:23), representing the
love for the State of Israel and our
unique national covenant between
commitment to our Jewish brothers
Abraham and God, Abraham is
and sisters, if understood properly,
transformed. The next time Sedom
should only increase our concern for
is threatened (next week), Abraham
the world.
prays for them regardless of Lot.
God’s message to Abraham and
Abraham is transformed by the
Sarah then, as it is today, is that
national act of circumcision into
as important as it is for Jewish
a universal citizen, concerned for
nationalism to be intense and
suffering far beyond his tent.
eternal; it must always drive us to
The seeming contradiction
be caring and sensitive to the needs
grows: On the one hand, the law
and suffering of those who dwell
of circumcision is limited to “those
inside our “tents” and outside our
born in your house” (verse 13). The
community, who desperately need
covenant is about the children and
our help and our love. ■
the households of Abraham; in fact,
Rabbi Asher Lopatin is rabbi of Congregation
God promises that the covenant will
Etz Chaim in Huntington Woods.
pass down exclusively through Sarah
and Abraham’s son Isaac and no one

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October 18 • 2018

jn